BonnerSprings.com

Insurance consumers in the Kansas City, Kan., area who were customers of Ronald E. Brown, Deatrice Brown or The Brown Insurance Agency are urged to contact their companies for coverage verification following regulatory and legal action against the Browns and their company.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger issued an emergency cease-and-desist order for the Browns and their agency, located at 3408 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, Kan. The order prohibits them from conducting any insurance business in Kansas following complaints from several homeowners who discovered their premiums were never forwarded to any insurance company.

"Those who have used Ronald E. Brown or Deatrice Brown as your insurance agent or The Brown Insurance Agency as your insurance agency, please check with your insurance company to confirm that you have coverage," Commissioner Praeger said.

One Kansas City, Kan., homeowner whose home was destroyed by fire earlier this fall found out he did not have an insurance policy he reportedly purchased from the Brown agency.

Ronald E. Brown was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 6 for mortgage fraud, according to a news report. Brown was allegedly issuing certificates of insurance for mortgage applications that he knew were fraudulent.

Consumers with any other concerns regarding Ronald E. Brown, Deatrice Brown or The Brown Insurance Agency should contact the Kansas Insurance Department Consumer Assistance Hotline, (800) 432-2484, or visit the department's Web site, www.ks.insurance.org.