A federal judge in Atlanta on Tuesday sentenced former Georgia Insurance Commissioner Jim Beck to over 7 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen handed down the 87-month sentence after a jury convicted Beck in July on 37 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud.
Beck was indicted months after being elected to statewide office in 2019. Prosecutors accused him of masterminding a scheme to steal more than $2.5 million from the Georgia Underwriting Association. Beck managed the state-chartered private insurer for years before taking office.
In July, an eight-day trial ended with jurors convicting Beck on 37 counts after less than two hours of deliberation.
Beck was suspended from office in 2019 and automatically removed upon his conviction. Gov. Brian Kemp appointed John King to run the office and the Republican is seeking a full term in 2022.
