Released: October 17, 2006

New Orleans - A New Orleans insurance agent has been issued a cease and desist order and summary suspension of her licenses for allegedly misappropriating insurance premiums.

Vilia Ann Ragas, 54, was ordered to cease and desist from engaging in the business of insurance and her insurance licenses were suspended today by

Department of Insurance Fraud Section Investigators. Today’s action came after the Department of Insurance received numerous complaints after Hurricane Katrina from consumers who discovered they did not have coverage when they filed damage claims with their insurance companies. In some instances the insurance companies had never received payment or policy information on the insureds, and in some instances policies had been cancelled because the companies never received premium payments allegedly given to Ragas.

Department of Insurance records show that Ragas held a license to sell Property & Casualty insurance since March 1996 and a license to sell Life, Health & Accident insurance since December 1989. She is also listed as sole owner, president, the registered agent and sole director of Citywide Insurance Agency, Inc., with an agency license to sell Property & Casualty insurance since September 2001. All licenses were suspended with today’s action. The agency address is listed as 5910 Haynes Blvd., Ste 202, New Orleans. Insurance Fraud Section Investigators served Ragas today at 3501 Holiday Dr., Ste 317, New Orleans.

Commissioner Donelon urges consumers who feel uneasy about any insurance-related transaction to call the Department of Insurance Fraud Unit at 225-342-4956 or 1-800-259-5300. If callers don’t want their names used, they can request that their involvement be kept confidential.

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