Former Hatboro Councilman Defrauded Clients Of $97K: Officials

HATBORO, PA — A Hatboro man, former borough councilman, and head of a Montgomery County insurance agency has pleaded guilty to defrauding his clients of more than $97,000, the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General announced recently.

Thomas Harbaugh, 60, of York Road, was sentenced to six months of house arrest and six years of court supervision after pleading guilty, authorities said.

“(Harbaugh) betrayed his clients, sacrificed his ethics and broke the law,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement. “Insurance fraud is a crime and we prosecute it fully.”

Officials said that Harbaugh, the president and owner of Miller & Cornell, an insurance agency, altered policies and inflated premiums, making it look like his clients had been given more coverage than they had actually received. The thefts occurred from two clients - HighPoint Solutions and Randy Bardol Wallcovering - over a period of five years.

As part of his conviction, Harbaugh was ordered to pay full restitution, which he did when he was sentenced. Harbaugh has been prohibited from working as an insurance agent or financial trustee in the future.

Senior Deputy Attorney General M. Eric Schoenberg prosecuted the case.

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