District Attorney Announces Guilty Plea in White Collar Case

North Fulton Insurance Exec Gets 15 Years for Theft of Over $167,000

Atlanta—Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. (Atlanta Judicial Circuit) announces that, following his guilty plea, Jack A. Bell (35) has been sentenced to 15 years (18 months of which are to be served under house-arrest wearing an ankle bracelet, with the balance on probation) for the theft of over $167,000 from his employer. Bell pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft by taking by a fiduciary. He must also pay remaining restitution of $105,000 within 30 days and adhere to numerous special conditions while on probation, including the completion of 500 hours of community service. While under house-arrest, he must observe a strict curfew as well. He may not hold any “position of trust” for the entire 15 years of his sentence without first fully and completely divulging to any prospective employer the charges to which he pleaded guilty and the conditions of his sentence.

Bell was employed as the unit manager for Fleming & Hall, third-party administrators handling insurance claims, in North Fulton and stole the money from January 1999 to February 2001. Using client accounts, he caused about 50 checks to be issued in payment for personal expenses such as credit cards, rent, and even his wife’s car payment. The company discovered the fraud during a routine review of a client’s account and noticed a check made out to the landlord of the apartment complex where Bell lived. Further investigation followed and uncovered the extent of the theft.

According to the firm, Bell had been a trusted employee earning roughly $100,000 and provided with a Porsche Boxster by the company. In fact, just before Bell received his comeuppance, he was to be given a raise as well as a promotion to head the company’s Atlanta office. The defendant claimed in court that he stole the money in order to help support his wife’s spending habits. She divorced him shortly after his arrest.

Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Brad Malkin of the White Collar Crime Unit prosecuted the case. Senior Investigators Joey Thurman and Tom Rumble investigated, and Judge Michael Johnson presided.

CONTACT: Erik Friedly, 404.224.0560 (office); 770.583.6069 (pager); erik.friedly@co.fulton.ga.us