A Covina, Calif., man, who already lost his insurance license for fraud violations in 2003, is now accused of stealing a former employee’s identity to enable him to collect commissions from life insurance policies.

James Alfred Morris, 66, was arrested and charged with eight felony counts of identity theft and six felony counts of grand theft, according to the California Department of Insurance (CDI).

Morris was arrested at his home Dec. 16 following a CDI investigation, alleging that from April 2007 to November 2007, he used a former colleague’s identity to submit 15 life insurance policies. As a result, Morris collected $8,457 in commission payments from an unidentified insurance company, authorities said.

Having lost his state insurance license in six years ago for similar fraud violations, Morris would not have been able to collect commission payments without allegedly stealing the victim’s identity, the department said.

The commission payments, made payable to his former employee, were made through direct deposit into a bank account controlled and operated by Morris, authorities said. The former employee was unaware of the transactions, according to investigators.

A CDI investigation on the matter began when the insurance company filed a complaint against Morris’ former employee alleging he owed them money for commissions already given, based on fraudulent life insurance applications.

The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Elder Abuse Unit, according to the CDI.