Life Insurance

TAVARES -- Authorities extradited a former Lake County man from his home in Colorado to face insurance-fraud charges for damage he claimed here during the 2004 hurricane season.

The Department of Financial Services says James Donald Harrison, 46, of Fruita, Colo., was overpaid by nearly $90,000 and created "false . . . documents" trying to fraudulently obtain about $50,000 from insurance companies, according to an affidavit for his arrest.

Harrison was arrested in Colorado earlier this month and booked into Lake County Jail Friday on $100,000 bail. He faces charges of false insurance claim, second- and third-degree grand theft and violating the Florida Communication Fraud Act, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

Harrison's insurance claims said he rented a home on Pink Grapefruit Trail in Clermont that sustained extensive roof and water damage, the affidavit said.

Detectives say that he prepared false documents claiming that companies built him a new roof for almost $10,000. They also allege he filed fake rental agreements with the property's owners who say they were living at the residence during part of the time he claimed, the affidavit said.

Harrison also reported more than $14,000 worth of damage to his camping equipment and home appliances that others said had either been given away in good condition or were boxed up and placed in storage before insurance adjusters arrived, according to the court documents.

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