Life insurance fraudsters who preyed on unhoused, addicted people in Maricopa County sentenced

PHOENIX — Two people who fraudulently collected life insurance proceeds in Maricopa County have been sentenced to prison, authorities announced Wednesday.

Shannon Lovell received 3.5 years in prison and three years of supervised probation last Thursday, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Previously, she pleaded guilty to fraudulent schemes and artifices and participating in a criminal syndicate.

Ryan Michell was sentenced on March 12 to 5.5 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised probation. This came after he pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal syndicate and fraudulent schemes and artifices.

How did they fraudulently collect life insurance proceeds?

Michell and Lovell preyed on vulnerable Arizonans from July 2017 through July 2019, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

They targeted unhoused individuals, people dealing with substance use disorder and others in vulnerable situations. Michell often approached potential victims at methadone clinics.

Michell created a fake business called “Patriot Life Insurance Company,” while Lovell served as the primary recruiter, prosecutors said. She convinced victims to sign up for what she claimed was a free, nonprofit‑subsidized life insurance policy.

After victims provided their personal information, Michell used it to take out real policies with legitimate insurance companies. He then altered the documents to list himself and Lovell as beneficiaries and replaced the victims’ contact information with fake addresses or his own.

The pair split the insurance proceeds evenly.

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