Identity Theft Risks in Florida's Insurance Industry: A 2023 Case Study

In 2023, the Florida insurance industry faced a significant identity theft incident, highlighting the risks tied to multi-state agent licensing. Insurance agent Kevin Langford from Miramar discovered that the IRS alleged he owed taxes on unreported income, attributed to unauthorized business activities. This situation underscores the critical need for robust regulatory compliance requirements to protect against such fraud.

Langford's ordeal prompted the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) to investigate, leading to the arrest of Omar Hibbert, another insurance agent from Pembroke Pines. Hibbert, owner of O Health Group, allegedly misused Langford’s identity and agent license to secure appointments with several insurance carriers. The Miami-Dade County Circuit Court affidavit details Hibbert’s efforts to fraudulently amass clients, generate business, and collect insurance commissions under Langford's credentials.

The investigation uncovered that Hibbert opened a business bank account in 2019 to deposit commissions linked to Langford’s credentials, verified by health insurance company Agentra as belonging to Langford. Despite being appointed with 19 active health insurance carriers, O Health Group, founded by Hibbert, hasn't filed its 2025 annual report. This case acts as a critical reminder to insurance industry professionals about the vulnerabilities and regulatory compliance challenges in the licensing system, especially regarding identity theft risks and multi-state underwriting practices.