For Immediate Release:
May 22, 2026
McAlester Insurance Producer Fined $12,000, License Revoked After OID Investigation
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) fined and revoked the license of Cheri Ellis, a McAlester insurance producer, after an Anti-Fraud Unit investigation.
OID opened an investigation after receiving five complaints alleging Ellis misappropriated more than $90,000 in customer premium payments, issued a fraudulent Certificate of Insurance, and misrepresented premium amounts owed to consumers.
A show cause hearing was held at OID’s offices on Nov. 13, 2025, before an independent examiner, at which Ellis failed to appear. After presentation of all the evidence, the Hearing Officer determined that Ellis had failed to remit the premium payments of five insureds to the proper insurer resulting in the cancellation of the insureds’ policies; failed to remit returned premium to an insured within 30 days of receipt; provided a false or altered Certificate of Insurance to another insured; and misled five insureds, accepting more than the required amount of premium, changing insureds’ payment terms for their policies, and misleading the insured regarding cancellations of their policies.
OID revoked Ellis’ license and issued a fine of $12,000. She was the owner of Independent Insurance Agency (IIA) in McAlester.
If you think you’ve witnessed insurance producer fraud, you can report it confidentially to OID by emailing fraudstoppers@oid.ok.gov, calling 800-522-0071 or visiting oid.ok.gov/anti-fraud.