Jane Dotson
Bryan Provencher, a 48-year-old insurance agent and manager of the Provencher Insurance Agency of Lowell, went missing in July 2018, sparking a police investigation. After being found safe, he faced charges for allegedly stealing from clients by pocketing their premiums and issuing bad checks, leaving them with unpaid policies. The case raised concerns among customers and prompted the involvement of state insurance authorities and legal counsel. Provencher ultimately surrendered his insurance licenses and avoided fines, but the incident left a trail of impacted individuals and raised questions about the security of insurance transactions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Bryan Provencher |
| Age | 48 |
| Occupation | Insurance agent |
| Location | Lowell, Massachusetts |
| Agency | Provencher Insurance Agency of Lowell on Lakeview Avenue |
| Charges | Larceny and forgery |
| Status | Missing, later found safe |
| Customer Impact | Unpaid premiums, insurance policies at risk of cancellation |
| Family Response | Declined to comment |
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What You'll Learn
Bryan Provencher went missing in 2018
Bryan Provencher, a 48-year-old insurance agent and manager of the Provencher Insurance Agency in Lowell, Massachusetts, went missing in 2018. He was last seen on July 31 in Lowell, where he was known to have an insurance office.
Provencher's disappearance left his customers in a difficult situation, as it was discovered that he had taken their money without paying their insurance premiums. Some customers reported that their insurance policies were on the verge of cancellation despite having made payments to Provencher. One such customer, Jaime Kirby, reported that her daughter had paid Provencher $750 to insure her first car, only to discover that the insurer had never received the payment because Provencher had issued a bad check.
In the days following Provencher's disappearance, his customers came to his insurance agency seeking answers. One customer, Rosenberger, reported that their payments were all messed up in the computer, and they were trying to gather bank statements and other documentation to prove that they had paid their bills.
Despite the concerns of theft and financial mismanagement, there was also sympathy expressed for Provencher and his family, who were anxiously awaiting his safe return. Kirby, for instance, expressed hope that Provencher would make it home safely while also acknowledging the potential wrongdoing on his part.
Provencher was eventually found, but the issue of missing premiums remained unresolved. The insurance agency stated that they were "still working with every customer and trying to help them." The agency also sought guidance from the state's Division of Insurance and legal counsel.
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He was found safe in 2019
Bryan Provencher, a 48-year-old insurance agent and manager of the Provencher Insurance Agency of Lowell, went missing for about two weeks in 2018. He was last seen in Lowell, Massachusetts, on July 31, 2018, and was found safe in Florida nearly two weeks later.
Provencher was facing charges for allegedly stealing from clients and insurance companies. He allegedly cashed a check intended for a new policy but failed to forward the payment necessary to start the new policy. Additionally, he was accused of cashing a refund check intended for a client using a forged signature and not forwarding the payment to the client.
After his disappearance, customers of his insurance agency came forward with complaints that he had taken their money without paying insurance premiums. Many customers were left in a bind, as their policies were unpaid and some were facing cancellation. One customer, Jaime Kirby, paid Provencher $750 to insure her daughter's first car, only to discover that the insurer never received the payment because Provencher issued a bad check.
In 2019, Provencher surrendered his insurance licenses and avoided fines. The Division's Special Investigation Unit offered him a chance to accept a settlement and revoke his licenses without a formal hearing. He wisely accepted the proposal, which included an immediate cease and desist from conducting any insurance business.
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Customers claim he took their money
Several customers of Brian Provencher, a New Hampshire insurance agent, have accused him of taking their money without paying their premiums. Provencher, who operates the Provencher Insurance Agency in Lowell, Massachusetts, was reported missing on July 31, 2018, and was found shortly after. Despite being located, the issue of missing premiums remained unresolved.
One customer, Jaime Kirby, reported that her daughter had paid Provencher $750 to insure her first car. However, they later discovered that their insurer had never insured the car because Provencher had issued a bad check. As a result, they were no longer covered and were faced with additional costs to regain their insurance coverage. Kirby expressed surprise at the situation, describing Provencher as a "great guy."
Another customer, Lillian Rosenberger, shared her disbelief, stating that she had been a client of Provencher's for 30 years but now faced insurance cancellation despite having paid her premiums. In response to the allegations, a representative from Provencher's office stated that they were "still working with every customer and trying to help them." Edward Lukatsky, who was in the process of taking over the agency, mentioned that they had sought guidance from the state's Division of Insurance and legal counsel.
Brian Provencher, the manager of the Provencher Insurance Agency, was charged with two counts of larceny over $1,200 and one count of forgery of a check. Meghan Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, stated that Provencher allegedly cashed a check intended for a new policy but failed to forward the payment to start the policy. Additionally, he was accused of cashing a refund check intended for a client using a forged signature and not forwarding the payment to the client.
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He was charged with larceny and forgery
Bryan Provencher, a 48-year-old insurance agent and manager of the Provencher Insurance Agency of Lowell on Lakeview Avenue, was charged with two counts of larceny over $1,200 and one count of forgery of a check. Meghan Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, stated that Provencher allegedly cashed a check intended for a new policy with his agency but failed to forward the payment necessary to start the new policy. Furthermore, he allegedly cashed a refund check intended for a client using a forged signature and did not forward the payment to the client.
Provencher's disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his alleged theft of insurance premiums from his clients caused significant concern among his customers. Many customers reported that he took their money without paying the insurance premiums, resulting in their policies being unpaid and at risk of cancellation. Jaime Kirby, one of Provencher's customers, shared that her daughter paid him $750 to insure her first car, only to discover later that the insurer never insured the car due to a bad check issued by Provencher.
In light of these events, the Division's Special Investigation Unit conducted an investigation and offered Provencher a chance to avoid a formal hearing and potential fines by agreeing to revoke his insurance producer licenses and cease his involvement in the insurance business. Provencher wisely accepted the proposal, thereby surrendering his licenses and avoiding additional penalties.
The case of Bryan Provencher highlights the unfortunate breach of trust between an insurance agent and his clients. While he was charged with larceny and forgery, the full extent of the financial and emotional impact on his customers remains unknown. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of trust and integrity in the insurance industry and the potential consequences when these values are compromised.
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Provencher surrendered his license and avoided fines
Bryan Provencher, a 48-year-old insurance agent and manager of the Provencher Insurance Agency of Lowell on Lakeview Avenue, disappeared under mysterious circumstances on July 31, 2018. He was last seen in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he also had an insurance office. After being missing for about two weeks, he was found safe in Florida and returned to Massachusetts.
Before his disappearance, Provencher collected payments from his customers but failed to forward them to insurance companies, leaving recent policy premiums unpaid. Many customers came forward, mostly regarding unpaid car insurance. Some discovered that their insurer never insured them because Provencher issued a bad check. As a result, they had to pay additional money to regain coverage.
Provencher was charged with seven counts of larceny over $1,200, four counts of larceny under $1,200, and two complaints of forgery. On August 12, 2019, the Division's Special Investigation Unit offered Provencher a chance to avoid a formal hearing and the likely fines that would follow. On August 22, 2019, Provencher wisely accepted the proposed settlement, which included the immediate revocation of his insurance producer license and a cease-and-desist order prohibiting him from conducting any insurance-related business. By surrendering his license and agreeing to the stipulations, Provencher avoided the potential for maximum fines of $1,000 for each deceptive act in the business of insurance.
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Frequently asked questions
Brian Provencher, a 48-year-old insurance agent and manager of the Provencher Insurance Agency in Lowell, Massachusetts, went missing for about two weeks in July 2018. He was last seen on July 31, 2018, in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he has an insurance office.
Brian Provencher was charged with stealing his clients' insurance premiums. He was also accused of failing to forward payments necessary to start new policies and cashing refund checks intended for clients without forwarding the payments. Specifically, he faced seven counts of larceny over $1,200, four counts of larceny under $1,200, and two complaints of forgery.
After being found by the police in Florida, Brian Provencher turned himself in to the Dracut Police Department. He surrendered his insurance licenses and avoided fines. He agreed to immediately cease conducting any insurance business and accepted the revocation of all his insurance producer licenses.
Brian Provencher's clients were left in a difficult situation, with their insurance policies at risk of cancellation due to non-payment of premiums. Some clients discovered that their insurance policies were never valid in the first place due to Provencher issuing bad checks. They were then faced with having to pay additional money to regain coverage.
