Tom Hanks.—File Photo

LOS ANGELES: An insurance broker pleaded not guilty Wednesday to allegations he overcharged Tom Hanks, the former guitarist of The Police and others hundreds of thousands of dollars for insurance premiums.    

Jerry B. Goldman, who was arrested at his Thousand Oaks home, was released from federal custody on a $25,000 bond posted by his wife, said Stephanie Yonekura-McCaffrey, executive assistant US attorney.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted Goldman on fraud charges Oct. 30. A call to his public defender, Yasmin Cader, was not immediately returned.

The indictment claims that between 1998 and last year, Goldman overcharged four victims including Hanks and Andy Summers, the former guitarist of The Police, more than $800,000 on insurance policies. He sent the premiums to the insurance companies and kept the overcharged amount, prosecutors claim.

When clients asked Goldman for copies of their insurance policies, he sent them altered copies that didn't disclose the true premium ''in order to lull his clients into a false sense of security'' and keep them from suing him or seeking criminal prosecution, the indictment charged. Details weren't released, but the indictment says the term ''insurance policies'' in the document refers to coverage for everything from cars, property and fine art to flood, fire, earthquakes, worker's compensation and ''personal employment practices liability.''

Hanks and Summers were identified in the indictment as T.H. and A.S., but prosecutors confirmed their identities. The other alleged victims were identified only as M.W.H. and S.R.

Calls and emails seeking comment from representatives of Hanks and Summers were not immediately returned.

A trial date has been set for Dec. 18.

Opinion

Editorial

Mixed signals
Updated 28 Dec, 2024

Mixed signals

If Imran wants talks to yield results, he should authorise PTI’s committee to fully engage with the other side without setting deadlines.
Opaque trials
Updated 28 Dec, 2024

Opaque trials

Secretive trials, shielded from scrutiny, fail to provide the answers that citizens deserve.
A friendly neighbour
28 Dec, 2024

A friendly neighbour

FORMER Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh who passed away on Thursday at 92 was a renowned economist who pulled ...
Desperate measures
Updated 27 Dec, 2024

Desperate measures

Sadly in Pakistan, street protests and sit-ins have become the only resort to catch the attention of a callous power elite.
Economic outlook
27 Dec, 2024

Economic outlook

THE post-pandemic years, marked by extreme volatility in the global oil and commodity markets as well as slowing...
Cricket and visas
27 Dec, 2024

Cricket and visas

PAKISTAN has asserted that delay in the announcement of the schedule of next year’s Champions Trophy will not...