Ex-49er accused of embezzling millions in insuranc

[brinkeguthrie]

(03-22) 16:20 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Former San Francisco 49ers placekicker Ray Wersching was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges of embezzling more than $8 million in insurance premiums, prosecutors said.

Wersching, 55, owner of the Ray Wersching Insurance Agency in Redwood City, was accused of misappropriating premiums that should have been paid to the Farmers Insurance Group from 1997 to 2000. The six-count indictment also charges him with evading taxes on $3.6 million of corporate income in 1999 and 2000.

The company's former co-owner, Mary Ann Locke, was indicted in August on similar embezzlement charges. One charge against Wersching is that he allowed Locke, who had a 1992 forgery conviction, to handle insurance, in violation of a law that prohibits willfully permitting a convicted felon to participate in the insurance business.

Wersching, a UC Berkeley graduate, had a 15-year National Football League career, playing for the San Diego Chargers from 1973 to 1977 and for the 49ers for the next 10 years. When he was released after the 1987 season, he held team records for total points, field goals and points after touchdown. He still holds a Super Bowl record with five career field goals.

The investigation of Wersching's insurance company was started by the state Department of Insurance in 2001 and later joined by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service, authorities said. It was also in 2001 that Farmers severed its relationship with Wersching, who had been a Farmers agent since 1995, according to the indictment.

State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said the indictment "makes it clear that in California, no one -- whether an average citizen or a former football star -- will escape prosecution if they are suspected of insurance fraud.''

[sc49erfan15]

Wow. Very disappointing.

I now have an autographed 8x10 of a felon hanging in my room. Awesome.

[NJTank]

Ouch thats bad