LAWRENCE COUNTY-Brandon Tory Hood and his wife, Heather Lynn Hood (also known as Heather Bolan), were indicted in September 2026 by federal prosecutors for a $24 million life insurance fraud scheme. Both individuals face federal charges including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to investigators and court records, the details of the scheme included Abuse of Law Enforcement Access Brandon Hood, a former Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputy and former Leighton police chief, allegedly used law enforcement databases to illegally access the personal identifying information of family members, friends, co-workers, and their spouses.
Brando and Heather Hood
The The couple, who were both licensed insurance agents, used the stolen names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers to electronically submit fake life insurance policies with a total face value exceeding $24 million. this information according to investigators on this case. They allegedly paid the initial monthly premiums out of their own bank accounts to activate the policies, allowing them to pocket massive payouts from insurance companies, including commissions as high as 80% of the first nine months of payments.
The alleged scheme occurred from August 1, 2022, through at least September 30, 2023, in Lawrence County, according to the indictment. On September 17, 2026, both Brandon and Heather Hood appeared in federal court and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
