The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) on Thursday (Feb. 15) announced that a former Lubbock insurance agent was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay over $800,000 to his scam victims.

Officers found that Joseph Allen Gaines was persuading senior citizens to purchase annuities, but then kept the money. Lubbock Police made this discovery after the family of one of Gaines' senior victims called their insurance company to confirm her investment. The family was told that there was no policy in the woman's name.

Gaines was charged with felonies in Swisher, Wilbarger and Howard counties. He was sentenced in Swisher county.

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