Insurance agent slammed with fraud charges, could face up to 60 years

A lawyer for a Miami insurance agent says he’ll plead not guilty to charges of stealing more than $14 million from premium finance companies.

Fifty-two-year-old Jose V. Peris, owner of Insurance Force Corp., is accused of submitting thousands of fraudulent contracts to the companies by listing fictitious policyholders.

His lawyer, Joel DeFabio, said Peris remained in jail Friday under a $400,000 bond. He was initially charged with theft last month and arrested again Thursday on organized fraud charges.

DeFabio disputed the $14 million figure cited by Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, whose investigators arrested his client.

Peris could face up to 60 years in prison if convicted.