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Norwalk Man Charged Again With Running Hole-In-One Insurance Scam

NORWALK, Conn. -- A Norwalk man was arrested again and charged with running a hole-in-one golf insurance scam in Washington state, authorities said.

Kevin Kolenda, 57, of Norwalk was charged with running an insurance scam out of Washington state.

Kevin Kolenda, 57, of Norwalk was charged with running an insurance scam out of Washington state.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Kevin Kolenda, 57, was charged with first-degree theft, two counts of selling insurance without a license, and being a fugitive from justice. He was held on $300,000 bond.

This is not the first time Kolenda has been arrested and charged with running a scam. He has been previously arrested in Norwalk on warrants from Washington state and Montana. He has also been investigated or prosecuted in Ohio, Georgia, California, New York, Hawaii, Alabama, Massachusetts, Florida, Connecticut and North Carolina.

Kolenda was arrested Monday by Norwalk police and members of Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kriedler's Special Investigations Unit, authorities said.

This is the second time Kriedler's office has pursued Kolenda, who was extradited in 2012 and pleaded guilty in 2013 on charges of selling insurance without a license and theft. That arrest stemmed from Kolenda failing to hole-in-one golf awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. In 2014, he was sentenced to 86 days in prison with credit for time served, and ordered to pay $15,000 restitution.

According to Kriedler's office, Kolenda resumed selling insurance without a license four days after his sentencing, and continued selling insurance in Washington at least six times between February 2014 and March 2015.

“This guy just doesn’t get it,” said Kreidler. “As long as he continues to sell insurance illegally in Washington state, I will continue to pursue him. He needs to leave Washington consumers alone.”

According to Kriedler, Kolenda also ignored a 2004 order to cease and desist from selling insurance in Washington without a license and a $125,000 fine levied in 2008 for continuing the practice. 

Kolenda was taken into custody at his home Monday. A search warrant was conducted and investigators seized evidence that will be analyzed when they return to Washington, according to Kriedler.

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