Bowie man indicted in alleged insurance fraud scheme targeting immigrants

Corrie Dewayne Alston, 51, of Bowie, was indicted by a Prince George’s County grand jury on May 26 on felony theft and insurance fraud charges in a case prosecutors say depended on the fear and silence of immigrant families. Officials allege Alston used his position as a licensed Maryland insurance agent to submit fake life insurance applications and collect commission payments, while counting on the people most affected to stay quiet.

The indictment includes one count of a felony theft scheme between $1,500 and $25,000 and 21 counts of felony insurance fraud over $300. Prosecutors say Alston filed 21 fraudulent applications for fictitious individuals and received about $5,122 in commissions from Senior Life Insurance Company. He worked for the Don Pope Insurance Agency and also held a federal government job as an information technology specialist.

Investigators say the alleged scheme was designed to avoid scrutiny. In an interview with investigators, Alston allegedly admitted he chose Hispanic surnames because he believed Senior Life would assume the applicants were undocumented immigrants and would not verify the Social Security numbers he provided. That alleged tactic, prosecutors say, exploited a mix of trust, language barriers and fear of drawing attention from authorities, especially in immigrant households that may be less likely to challenge suspicious paperwork or report fraud.

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown called the alleged conduct “appalling” and “cynical.” Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant said insurance fraud undermines consumer trust and drives up costs for honest policyholders, a warning that matters in communities like Bowie, where families often depend on agents to explain coverage, premiums and claims in plain language.

The investigation was led by the Maryland Attorney General’s Fraud and Corruption Unit and the Maryland Insurance Administration. The case will be heard in Prince George’s County Circuit Court. An indictment is an accusation, and Alston is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

For residents who may have been approached with unfamiliar policy paperwork, the case is a reminder to verify every name, Social Security number and beneficiary listing before signing, especially if an agent pressures a quick decision or says a policy is needed immediately. Any suspicious insurance activity in Prince George’s County can now be a sign that someone is using the same playbook prosecutors say was used here: rely on vulnerability, take the commission, and assume the target will never come forward.