A Colorado man who aided a former Travelers Insurance claims adjuster in committing fraudulent auto insurance claims that added up to hundreds of thousands of dollars has been sentenced for his role in the scheme.

In 2020, Shawn Brassfield, 55, helped former adjuster Colette Palin, 63, commit fraud, according to a Colorado Attorney General’s Office press release.

After an internal company investigation by Travelers flagged several of Palin’s claims as suspicious, it also revealed that Brassfield, a known associate of Palin, was the beneficiary of two claim checks she issued.

Palin admitted to investigators that she issued fraudulent payments to herself, Brassfield, and another associate, Malee Lor, 47. Lor is a former Thornton police officer.

After Travelers referred the case to the Financial Fraud Unit in the Criminal Justice Section of the Colorado Department of Law, the state’s investigation found Palin issued 64 fraudulent payments totaling $268,530 between 2018 and 2020. Of that total, Brassfield received $23,344 and Lor received $31,495.

Palin told investigators she committed fraud to assist with her sister’s medical bills, and later, her gambling debts. Palin pleaded guilty to felony theft and fraud charges in June and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 19.

Brassfield was sentenced to eight years of probation and ordered to pay over $23,344 in restitution and serve 80 hours of community service.

“We all end up footing the bill when people engage in insurance fraud,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose department prosecuted the case. “Our department is committed to holding accountable those who engage in fraud. This case sends a clear message to fraudsters — if you think you can get away with fraud, think again.”

Weiser charged all three defendants with felony theft and insurance fraud in Arapahoe County District Court in 2023, and all three later pleaded guilty.

Lor was sentenced to 10 years of probation and 120 hours of community service on May 6. Like Brassfield, Lor will pay restitution equal to the amount stolen.

The AG’s office encourages Coloradans who suspect insurance fraud or any other type of fraud or scam to file a complaint with them at StopFraudColorado.gov.

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