Clark Groce CIO | Official Website
A Texas man has admitted guilt in a fraud case involving a Georgia church and insurance money meant for hurricane damage repairs. Andrew Mitchell, also known as "Andrew Aga," age 45, from Kemah, Texas, pleaded guilty to mail fraud in a proceeding before U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on March 27. The verdict exposes Mitchell to up to 30 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The court will decide on the sentencing schedule, and there is no parole for federal offenses.
Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker expressed the impact, stating, "It is disheartening to see someone willing to defraud a place of worship in the wake of a major natural disaster, especially when its congregation trusted the defendant and all those involved to act lawfully and help them repair their historic downtown facility after Hurricane Michael." The case was handled by a team of federal prosecutors in collaboration with the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office.
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John F. King discussed the case, highlighting, "At a time when victims were still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Michael, Andrew Mitchell took advantage of that vulnerability for his own personal gain." He acknowledged the efforts of investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for protecting Georgia families.
According to the court, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Albany suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018. The initial inspection estimated at least $216,000 in damages. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, issued initial payment for partial repairs. Throughout 2019 and 2020, Mitchell engaged in various fraudulent activities, including providing false repair estimates and forging endorsements to direct insurance payments intended for the church to his controlled entities.
The case's repercussions extended over several years, with significant insurance payments designed to cover repairs misappropriated. The church has received less than a third of the intended payouts, with much of the reconstruction work left incomplete. False claims, forged documents, and misrepresented contracts were part of the fraudulent scheme revealed in the court documents.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen leads the prosecution for the government in this case. The investigation underscores the collaborative efforts between federal and state authorities to address and prevent fraud in disaster relief situations.
Contact information for public affairs from both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of Commissioner of Insurance provides avenues for further inquiries.
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