Norwalker Accused of Golf Insurance Scams Arraigned in Seattle

A Norwalk man extradited under guard to Seattle last week was denied a reduction in bail Thursday in Washington State’s King County Superior Court.

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

Operating as Golf Marketing Worldwide LLC and other names, Kolenda, 55, of 33 North Water St., sold insurance to promoters of golf tournaments in numerous states where a cash prize was offered for a participant who sank a hole in one.

The investigation of Kolenda’s insurance sales in Washington by Commissioner Mike Kreidler 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.

Kolenda failed to appear for arraignment in King County Superior Court Sept. 5, so a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Norwalk Police captured him Sept. 25 as a fugitive from justice after he was spotted on Day Street in South Norwalk.

Police said Kolenda fled when they attempted to take him into custody, and he ended up hiding in a lot a landscaping company used to store shrubbery and trees.

Police spokesman Lt. Praveen John said officers surrounded the lot and requested a K-9 officer come to the scene. When the officer arrived with his dog, police shouted to Kolenda that if he didn't surrender the dog would be sent in to get him. John said Kolenda walked out with his hands up.

Police charged him with interfering with an officer, a charge that was knolled by an assistance state’s attorney in Superior Court in Norwalk when the warrant for Kolenda’s extradition was approved.

Kolenda was held in the Bridgeport Correctional Center in lieu of $92,500 bond for more than a month while Washington authorities obtained a Governor’s warrant to extradite him. Gov. Dannell P. Malloy granted the warrant in November.

Kolenda has been held in King County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Kolenda’s arraignment was attended by an investigator for the insurance commissioner’s office. The investigator provided a written description to Norwalk Patch of what occurred during the proceeding:

Appearing before Judge Ronald Kessler, Kolenda was represented by a public defender who 1) argued the defendant did not fight extradition, 2) did not receive notice to appear, 3) ran from (Norwalk) police because he is “hard of hearing," and 4) should have his bail reduced to $5,000.

The investigator said a King County deputy prosecutor argued 1) notice was sent to the verified correct address, 2) a Governor’s extradition warrant was issued for Kolenda and he fought extradition, 3) after running from (Norwalk) police, a K-9 had to be used to get him to surrender, and 4) Kolenda is a flight risk, has committed frauds in numerous states and has a prior criminal record; thus bail should remain at $50,000.

Kessler declined to reduce Kolenda’s bail and set his next court hearing for Jan. 30, 2013.

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