Farmers Insurance Agent Charged with Theft and Forgery

Insurance agent arrested in fraud investigation

November 08, 2007 14:06PM

Kenneth Edward Reinking

BEAVERTON -- An insurance agent who is said to be the focal point of a state investigation of fraud, forgery and theft involving his now-closed Eugene office has been arrested at his home near Beaverton, according to the Oregon State Police.

Kenneth Edward Reinking, 51, was arrested Monday on a Linn County warrant charging him with first-degree theft, three counts of first-degree forgery and a single count of negotiating a bad check, said Lt. Gregg Hastings, an OSP spokesman.

Reinking was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and held in the Washington County Jail but has been released. Hastings said Reinking is scheduled to appear in Linn County Circuit Court on Nov. 28.

The investigation of Reinking began in late July, Hastings said, when OSP detectives joined the state Insurance Division and served a search warrant at his north Eugene company, Reinking Insurance.

The business has since closed.

Hastings said Reinking is being prosecuted in Linn County, rather than Lane County, where his business was located, because the offenses he's charged with are alleged to have occurred in Linn County.

Since serving the warrant July 31, Hastings said investigators have been contacted by about 89 people who have information that relates to the investigation of Reinking.

Hastings added that additional charges may be filed in other counties.

Investigators ask that anyone who has had problems dealing with Reinking's company to contact OSP Detective Dan Wolverton at 541-726-2550, Ext. 219.

-- John Snell; johnsnell@news.oregonian.com

Copied without permission (Fair Use) from Oregonlive.com