A Franklin man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Nashville Friday to one count of wire fraud after admitting to stealing more than $50,000 from an elderly client of his Franklin-based insurance agency, Steele Rolin Co.
According to U.S. Attorney David Rivera, Rolin admitted that he made unauthorized withdrawals from certain annuity policies that he controlled on behalf of his client between 2011 and 2015, without his client’s knowledge or permission.
Rolin forged his client’s endorsement signature on the resulting checks, and deposited funds derived from these checks into his personal checking account and into a business account he controlled. Rolin used these embezzled funds to pay various personal expenses.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In addition, the court will order Rolin to pay restitution to his former client. Rolin will be sentenced by Judge Waverly David Crenshaw Jr. on January 27, 2017.
Rolin’s sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely.
