CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man with a history of insurance misconduct is now facing federal charges alleging a sprawling fraud scheme that victimized dozens of people in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas, and included the fraudulent acquisition of COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Seneca Birchmore, 44, was arrested this morning and is accused of bilking senior citizens and lying to secure pandemic relief funds.
Birchmore’s troubles began in 2019 when he lost his insurance license for a simple, yet brazen, tactic: writing policies for people who didn’t want them, just to pocket the commissions. But losing his license didn’t stop him. According to court documents, Birchmore allegedly escalated his scheme, stealing the identities of two other insurance agents. He then used those stolen identities to write even more unwanted life insurance policies, funneling the resulting commissions – totaling over $80,000 – into his own bank accounts. The initial fraudulent policies written under his own name brought in over $8,000.
Local law enforcement agencies were flooded with complaints from victims reporting unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts. Many of these victims, authorities say, were senior citizens residing in Dayton, Englewood, Middletown, and Cincinnati. The pattern was clear: policies were being opened and premiums automatically deducted, all without the policyholders’ consent. The scope of Birchmore’s alleged scheme suggests a calculated and prolonged effort to exploit vulnerable individuals.
But the insurance fraud wasn’t Birchmore’s only alleged hustle. Prosecutors claim he also fraudulently obtained two COVID Paycheck Protection Program loans, totaling more than $40,000. In applications riddled with falsehoods, Birchmore allegedly claimed to own a business – a business that, authorities say, doesn’t exist – and inflated his 2019 gross income to over $13 million. This brazen attempt to capitalize on a national crisis adds another layer of severity to the charges.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, led by Kenneth L. Parker, announced the charges in a coordinated effort with the Social Security Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, Ohio Department of Insurance, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, U.S. Marshals Service, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, and Cincinnati Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Birchmore faces a potential maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for fraud related to emergency benefits, five years for social security fraud, and a mandatory two years for aggravated identity theft.
A criminal complaint has been filed, but Birchmore is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence presented so far paints a picture of a serial fraudster who allegedly preyed on vulnerable citizens and exploited a national emergency for personal gain. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the latest developments from the courtroom.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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