This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Accused Golf Insurance Scammer Free On Bond

Released after being arraigned in Washington state's King County Court.

A Norwalk man accused of writing sham insurance policies for golf tournament hole-in-one contests in Washington state is free on bond and
back home after being extradited to King County Dec. 13.

According to the Washington state King County Lookup Service, Kevin Walter Kolenda was released on Dec. 21 after posting a $50,000 bond. The service does not indicate who posted the bond.

Kolenda’s release became known to local reporters after he filed a complaint Wednesday afternoon at Norwalk Police Headquarters accusing two men he allowed to live in his South Norwalk condominium of stealing what he estimated to be $14,000 of his property while he was incarcerated.

Find out what's happening in Norwalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to police spokesman Lt. Praveen John, Kolenda said the men living in his condominium at 33 North Water St. stole $10,000 in rare coins, an Apple iPad, a Sony digital camera and two bottles of Cristal champagne.

Kolenda was charged in August by Washington state’s insurance commissioner with five counts of Engaging in an Unauthorized Insurance Transaction, a B felony.

Find out what's happening in Norwalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Operating as Golf Marketing Worldwide LLC and other names, Kolenda, 55, allegedly sold hole-in-one insurance policies to promoters of golf tournaments in numerous states where a cash prize was offered for a participant who sank a hole in one.

Commissioner Mike Kreidler accused Kolenda of selling three hole-in-one polices in Washington state where he failed to a pay a prize to a golfer who sank a hole in one.

Kolenda’s extradition to Seattle occurred after he failed to appear for arraignment in King County Superior Court Sept. 5. A judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest and Norwalk Police captured him Sept. 25 as a fugitive from justice.

From the time he was captured in Norwalk, Kolenda was held in the Bridgeport Correctional Center in lieu of $92,500 bond, until Washington authorities obtained a Governor’s warrant to extradite him, which Gov. Dannell P. Malloy granted in November.

After his arraignment in Seattle on Dec. 20, Kolenda was held for a day in King County Jail until he posted a $50,000 bond.

Kreidler’s investigation of Kolenda’s insurance sales in Washington dates back to 2003, when Kolenda sold a hole-in-one policy for a tournament in Bremerton, WA. Kreidler said a golfer sank a hole in one, but Kolenda wouldn't pay a prize of $10,000.

Kreidler said Kolenda also sold a hole-in-one policy in 2004 for a tournament in Vancouver, WA, for a prize of $50,000. A participant sank a
hole  in one, but Kolenda refused to pay the prize, he said.

After a hearing in 2008 that Kolenda failed to attend, he was ordered to pay a $125,000 fine, which he allegedly never did.

And in 2010, Kreidler said Kolenda sold coverage for a $25,000 prize for a tournament in Snohomish, WA, where a player sank a hole  in one. Kolenda allegedly never paid the prize.

Kolenda is accused of violating the mandates of a Cease and Desist Order issued by the insurance commissioner Feb. 6, 2004, to stop selling insurance without a license.

In a "Final Findings of Facts, Conclusion of Law and Order On Hearing" issued in July 2008, the office of the insurance commissioner ordered Kolenda to pay a fine of $25,000 for illegally selling insurance for a golf tournament in May 24, 2004.

The findings also ordered Kolenda to pay a fine of $100,000 for illegally selling insurance to golf tournaments twice in July 2006 and twice in August 2006.

In 2004, Kolenda was found guilty in Connecticut of first-degree larceny. He was sentenced to two years in jail, which was suspended, followed by three years probation. In 2009 in this state, he was found guilty of criminal attempt to committ third-degree larceny. He was sentenced to two years in jail, which was suspended, following by three years probation.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.