A Colorado man who assisted a former insurance claims adjuster in a significant auto insurance fraud scheme received his sentence this week.
In 2020, John Brassfield, 55, of Aurora, was implicated in a fraudulent operation alongside Colette Palin, 63, a former employee of Travelers Insurance, also from Aurora. An internal investigation by Travelers Insurance identified several suspicious claims linked to Palin, uncovering that Brassfield, a known associate of Palin, was the recipient of two fraudulent claim checks issued by her.
Palin confessed to issuing fraudulent payments to herself, Brassfield, and another associate, Malee Lor, 47, a former Thornton police officer.
The case was escalated to the Financial Fraud Unit within the Criminal Justice Section of the Colorado Department of Law. The state’s investigation revealed that between 2018 and 2020, Palin issued 64 fraudulent payments totaling $268,530. Of this amount, Brassfield received $23,344, and Lor received $31,495.
All three individuals pleaded guilty to felony theft and insurance fraud.
Brassfield was sentenced to eight years of probation, ordered to pay $23,344 in restitution, and required to complete 80 hours of community service. Palin, who pleaded guilty to felony theft and fraud charges in June, is scheduled for sentencing on August 19. Lor was sentenced to 10 years of probation and 120 hours of community service and will pay restitution equivalent to the amount she fraudulently received.
