Final Orders

Ramon Herrera, Union City, NJ
Order #E26-04, January 1, 2026
Respondent failed to report a FINRA action taken against him, misappropriated financial client funds and was convicted of a federal criminal charge of wire fraud.
Sanction: Revocation of License; Fine – $15,000; Costs - $825

Angelo Maimone and eSurranty, Inc., Miami, FL
Order #E26-05, January 20, 2026
Respondents sold cell phone insurance policies to New Jersey residents without obtaining an insurance producer license and misappropriated claim funds.
Sanction: Fine – $75,000; Costs - $775; Restitution - $788.74

Bernadette J. Jacobus f/k/a/ Bernadette J. Johansson, Hackettstown, NJ
Order #E26-06, January 20, 2026
Respondent failed to disclose all drivers in her household and misrepresented ownership of risk vehicles on automobile policy.
Sanction: Revocation of License; Fine – $20,000 ($10,000 for Producer Act violations and $10,000 for Fraud Act violations), Costs - $900, Attorneys’ Fees - $10,000, Fraud Act Surcharge - $1,000

Silkia Ostrander and Rapid Bail Bonds, LLC, Las Vegas, NV
Order #E26-07, January 20, 2026
Respondents misappropriated and failed to return collateral received in the course of a bail bond transaction and failed to cooperate with a Department investigation.
Sanction: Silkia Ostrander – Revocation of License; Rapid Bail Bonds, LLC - Revocation of License; Fine – $20,000, Costs - $2,750; Restitution - $20,000

Jahvon Thompson, North Miami, FL
Order #E26-08, January 20, 2026 
Respondent failed to report actions against his insurance license in the states of Iowa, North Carolina and Ohio.
Sanction: Revocation of License; Fine – $4,500, Costs - $412.50

Carl L. Ellen, Passaic, NJ
Order #E26-09, January 20, 2026 
Respondent provided a fraudulent document in support of an application for a Special Automobile Insurance policy.
Sanction: Revocation of License; Fine – $10,000 ($5,000 for Producer Act violations and $5,000 for Fraud Act violations), Costs - $812.50, Attorneys’ Fees - $2,000, Fraud Act Surcharge - $1,000

Lawrence S. Ackerman and Atlantic Business Association, Inc., Demarest, NJ
Order #E26-10, January 20, 2026
Respondents conducted insurance business without being licensed, sold unapproved health insurance policies, falsely identified persons as employees to obtain health insurance and defrauded an insurance carrier. Respondents were also criminally convicted of healthcare fraud by the federal government and failed to report the conviction to the Commissioner.
Sanction: Revocation of License – Lawrence Ackerman; Fine – $95,000, Costs - $362.50

Consent Orders

Medsol Billing LLC, Scarsdale, NY
Order #E26-01, January 15, 2026
Respondent operated a third party billing service in New Jersey without obtaining prior certification from the Department.
Sanction: Fine - $5,000

Asher & Associates, Lakewood, NJ
Order #E26-02, January 15, 2026
Respondent operated a third party billing service in New Jersey without obtaining prior certification from the Department.
Sanction: Fine - $5,000

Order of Remand

Diversified Public Adjusters, LLC and Joseph Vulpis, Millstone Township, NJ
Order #E26-03, January 16, 2026
In the matter of Order to Show Cause E19-32, it was determined and ordered that the matter is dismissed and the monetary penalties and costs ordered in Final Order #E22-50 are vacated.

Orders to Show Cause

Daniel R. Shrader, Camden, NJ
Barley Shrader, Summerville, SC
East Coast Adjusters, LLC, Summerville, SC
Order #E26-11, January 20, 2026
Respondents are charged with misappropriating and failing to remit insurance proceeds to NJ insureds.

Gerald J. Gregor and Gregor Insurance Group, LLC, Morristown, NJ
Order #E26-12, January 20, 2026
Respondents are charged with conducting insurance business without being licensed and improperly charging a service fee for services rendered in the sale or service of health insurance.

Liberty Mutual Mid Atlantic Insurance Company, Boston, MA
Wausau Underwriters Insurance Company, Wausau, WI
Liberty Mutual fire Insurance Company, Wausau, WI
Order #E26-13, January 20, 2026
Respondents are charged with failing to identify the due date of premium in renewal packets sent to insureds.

Carl W. Garnes, Sewell, NJ
Order #E26-14, January 20, 2026
Respondent is charged with completing, signing and submitting a life insurance application containing false and misleading information.

Richard B. Kay, Princeton, NJ
Order #E26-15, January 20, 2026
Respondent is charged with conducting an unsolicited telephone call to a potential Medicare enrollee.

Veronica Sanchez and Veronica’s Insurance Agency, Inc., Paterson, NJ
Order #E26-16, January 20, 2026
Respondents are charged with overcharging service fees and charging service fees without entering into a separate written fee agreement.

Leon A. Lowenthal, Monsey, NY
Order #E26-17, January 20, 2026
Respondent is charged with submitting four life insurance applications without the knowledge or consent of applicants that contained false and misleading information and forged signatures in order to earn a greater commission amount.

Yechiel B. Katz d/b/a Benny Katz, Lakewood, NJ
Order #E26-18, January 20, 2026
Respondent is charged with submitting four applications for insurance that contained false and misleading information of how policy premiums would be paid in order to receive an advanced commission. 

Manish H. Shah, New Hope, PA
Order #E26-19, January 20, 2026
Respondent is charged with failing to report actions taken against him by the Insurance Department of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the New Jersey Bureau of Securities, and submitted a false statement on his insurance license renewal application.

Theodore E. Tracey, Hackensack, NJ
Order #E26-20, January 20, 2026
Respondent is charged with misappropriating insurance funds received and failing to cooperate with the Department’s investigation.

Marc H. Smith and Secure Retirement Strategies, LLC, Mechanicsville, PA
Order #E26-21, January 20, 2026
Respondents are charged with circulating 15,000 mailers that failed to identify the name of the producer, insurer and description of services/products.

Ariel Hessing and Walnut Advisory Corporation, Green Brook, NJ
Order #E26-22, January 20, 2026
Respondents are charged with failing to remit insurance funds, misappropriating insurance funds, failing to maintain proper records, failing to maintain a trust account and operating a trust account with insufficient funds.