North Dakota
Fargo insurance agent fined by state disputes giving kickbacks
BISMARCK — A Fargo insurance agent facing the largest fine ever imposed by the North Dakota Insurance Department says the state agency misrepresented what led to the fine.
Tyler Bjerke, a representative for Midwest Heritage Insurance and Valley Crop Insurance, has been fined $136,500 and his license to sell insurance in North Dakota has been placed on probation for four years for violating a law that limits gifts to clients and potential clients, according to the order finalizing the penalties.
The per person limit means insurance agents can give a gift of $200 to a client couple, said Insurance Department spokesperson Jacob Just.
The Insurance Department said Bjerke gave 182 pub-style tables to clients and potential clients valued at $213.95.
Bjerke doesn’t dispute the cost but contends that he originally ordered the tables from China in July 2022 at a price of $199.95 per set. He said in September 2022, he was told that the price had gone up to $213.95 due to port fees and tariffs.
He said he tried to cancel the order but would have lost a $20,000 deposit.
“I made a business decision based on $14.95 over the gift allowance and thought that no one would care about $14.95,” he said in the email. “This was $2,720.90 over the limit and I was fined $136,500, $750 per violation.”
Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread said in a statement that licensed insurance agents aren’t allowed to give high-value gifts to consumers “because it essentially boils down to bribing clients for business.”
“Insurance should only be sold based on the competitive coverage options and premiums offered by an agent, not by those who can offer kickbacks in exchange for business,” Godfread said.
Bjerke said the pub tables were for clients with “man-caves, shops, lake homes, etc.” as a way to thank clients he considers family members.
“For the insurance commissioner to mention that gifts are kickbacks in exchange for business is a gross misrepresentation of what occurred,” Bjerke said.
The Insurance Department also found that Bjerke hosted a concert by the band Sawyer Brown in February 2023 with free admission to clients and potential clients, with the value also exceeding the $100 limit. Prosecution of that case was deferred as a condition of Bjerke’s license being placed on probation.
Bjerke said the band was booked as part of a company and client celebration after a day of training sessions that included updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers crop insurance programs, and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., a crop insurance advocate. He said there were no tickets to the event.
Bjerke said he tried multiple times to meet with the Insurance Department and complied with their request for four years of company records.
He said the Insurance Department has a vital role to play in creating an equal playing field for North Dakota insurance agents, but he said he believes his agency was targeted.
Jeff Kleven, executive director of Independent Insurance Agents of North Dakota, said these kinds of violations should be taken seriously and can hurt the reputation of the industry.
Kleven said every licensed insurance agent is aware of the rules on gifts.
“It’s part of the test,” he said.
This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com
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COOPERSTOWN, N.D. — The Griggs County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident in which someone aimed a laser pointer at an airplane as it was flying over a field northwest of Binford on Friday evening, Jan. 30.
Department officials posted an advisory on its Facebook page, reminding residents that doing so is a federal crime and can potentially blind the pilot. The offense is punishable by FAA fines of up to $32,000, up to five years in federal prison or both.
“Thankfully, no harm came to those operating the plane or the plane itself,” the post read. “The culprit was not found, but if anyone has info regarding this matter please notify us.”
Authorities posted a photo of what a laser pointer looks like from the pilot’s vantage point, accompanied by an explanation of why lasers are so dangerous to aircraft: “Lasers expand at distance and can engulf the cockpit in a ’flashbulb effect’ similar to a camera flash. This can temporarily blind pilots, if not permanently damage their eyes.”
Anyone with information on the incident can contact the Griggs County sheriff at
sheriff@griggscountynd.gov
or 701-797-2202.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks man will serve no additional time for a federal methamphetamine charge.
Jeremie Richard Castoreno, 43, was sentenced Thursday, Jan. 29, to 12 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance.
He was involved in a drug conspiracy where he possessed more than 1,000 grams of a mixture that contained methamphetamine, according to the information filed in the case.
Castoreno’s sentence will run concurrently with the
12 years he is already serving
for a Grand Forks County case in which he pleaded guilty to Class A felony delivery of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility.
The federal sentence then adds no additional time to his prison term.
Conditions of his federal sentence include that Castoreno be placed at the lowest-level security facility as close to Grand Forks as possible, so he can be near family, and that he serve his time at a facility that allows participation in substance abuse treatment, including the 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program.
He should also be allowed to participate in educational and vocational opportunities, as well as any mental health treatment that’s deemed appropriate by the Bureau of Prisons.
After serving his time, Castoreno will be on supervised release for five years. Special conditions of his release include abstaining from the use of alcohol or illegal drugs, submitting to drug/alcohol screening and searches and participating in any relevant treatment.
Filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court
North Dakota
AnnMarie Klorgba Blamoh, also known as Annmarie Blamoh Bereuter, Fargo, Chapter 7
Justin Bradley Olivieri and Amy Lynn Olivieri, formerly known as Amy Lynn Holmberg, West Fargo, Chapter 13
Jamie L. Taylor, Grand Forks, Chapter 7
Jennifer Ernst, Horace, Chapter 13
Joseph Edwin Earl Denault and Kjersten Autumn Timm, Fargo,, Chapter 7
Shawn R. Parsley, Fargo, Chapter 13
Stephen Curtis Kelly, Fargo, Chapter 7
Kevin Jon Noyes and Nicole Ann Noyes, formerly known as Nicole Lawson, Grand Forks, Chapter 7
Lacey Jae Christianson, Cavalier, Chapter 7
Arlene Carrie Arrayan, Minot, Chapter 7
Arlene Carrie Arrayan, Minot, Chapter 7
Troy Aaron Gerlach, Jamestown, Chaper 7
Vincent Michael Castleman, Horace, Chapter 7
William Benjamin Moon, Grand Forks, Chapter 7
James Robert Wilson and Sara Jean Wilson, formerly known as Sara Blaufuss, Wahpeton, Chapter 7
Michael Samuelson, Fargo, Chapter 7
Benjamin J. and Samantha W. Buck, Grand Forks, Chapter 7
Minnesota
Bankruptcy filings from the following counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Traverse, Wadena and Wilkin.
Katelyn Patricia Kohls, Osakis, Chapter 7
Luke Daniel Walvatne, Fergus Falls, Chapter 7
Tyler David Benjamin, East Grand Forks, Minn., Chapter 7
Brittni Nicole Hatlestad, Sabin, Chapter 7
Krista Agnes Ross, Henning, Chapter 7
Damien Saul Abdo, Waubun, Chapter 7
Stormi Le’ Amber LaCombe, Park Rapids, Chapter 7
Chapter 7 is a petition to liquidate assets and discharge debts.
Chapter 11 is a petition for protection from creditors and to reorganize.
Chapter 12 is a petition for family farmers to reorganize.
Chapter 13 is a petition for wage earners to readjust debts.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
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