A Texas man has pleaded guilty to defrauding a Georgia church out of millions after Hurricane Michael damaged its facilities. Andrew Mitchell, 45, from Kemah, Texas, admitted to a mail fraud charge in a case involving the exploitation of vulnerabilities following natural disasters. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that Mitchell faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000, though a sentencing date has not been set.
After Hurricane Michael hit in 2018, Mitchell, also known as "Andrew Aga," posed as an insurance adjuster and took advantage of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, which was trying to recover from the hurricane's damage. Mitchell, claiming to represent several companies, submitted inflated repair estimates to the church's insurance provider, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. He also forged endorsements and redirected over $6.8 million in insurance payments meant for the church's repairs, as per the same release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker expressed disappointment over the defendant's actions, noting the betrayal of trust by defrauding a place of worship after a major natural disaster. Georgia Insurance Commissioner John F. King praised the investigators for their efforts to safeguard Georgia families and ensure the defendant is held accountable for his actions.
Court documents show that Mitchell started by submitting a $2.1 million repair estimate in January 2019, which he later increased to $7.1 million by March 2019. He defrauded Brotherhood Mutual Insurance by altering payout checks and getting the church to sign contracts based on falsified documents. The construction company involved stopped repairs in February 2021 after receiving only a small portion of the funds, as Mitchell lied about the status of the insurance payments.
The investigation that led to Mitchell's guilty plea was a joint effort between the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety, with Criminal Chief Leah McEwen leading the prosecution.
