Former Bedford Insurance Agent Sentenced for Wire Fraud

CONCORD, NH—Raymond H. Douville, 54, who is also known as Raye Ellen Douville, was sentenced today to two years in federal prison for committing wire fraud in connection with defrauding clients of her former insurance agency. Douville was also ordered to pay a total of $164,491.08 in restitution to the victims she defrauded.

From about October, 2001, through about September, 2003, Douville, who resides in Bedford, New Hampshire, operated an insurance agency that catered to the insurance needs of small, independently owned trucking companies. Many of Douville’s clients borrowed funds from a finance company to cover the costs of most of their annual insurance premiums. The finance company wired loan proceeds to Douville’s business bank accounts to be held in trust for Douville’s clients. Douville was required to use those funds to pay the annual insurance premiums due on her client’s insurance policies. Instead of paying the annual premiums, however, Douville used her client’s funds for her personal benefit, which left her clients uninsured but still obligated to repay their loans to the finance company. Douville defrauded twelve New Hampshire businesses and embezzled over $100,000.

In August, 2008, a federal grand jury indicted Douville for wire fraud. Douville pleaded guilty to that charge on January 13, 2009.

The court ordered Douville to report to federal prison to begin serving her sentence by 2:00 p.m. on June 19, 2009. Until then, Douville was released on bail conditions under the supervision of the United States Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark S. Zuckerman.