Recent filings in a civil lawsuit accuse former Miller County Treasurer Danny Lewis of bilking his former business associates of nearly $100,000.
Lewis and his wife, Tami Lewis, are named as defendants in a civil suit filed last year on behalf of Texarkana, Ark.-based Chandler Insurance and the company's owners, Danny and Charlotte Jewell. This week the Jewells' lawyer, David Freeze of Texarkana, filed a document which lists allegedly unauthorized withdrawals by Danny Lewis from Chandler Insurance bank accounts that were not discovered until August 2016 because of "fraudulent concealment."
The Jewells allege Danny Lewis made 46 unauthorized cash withdrawals from a Chandler account at First National Bank from July 27, 2009, to Feb. 28, 2013, which total $22,809.65. From a second Chandler account at First National, Danny Lewis allegedly made six unauthorized withdrawals from June 8, 2009, to July 12, 2010, which total $2,750. The Jewells accuse Danny Lewis of making 25 unauthorized withdrawals from a Chandler account at Bank of the Ozarks from June 15, 2009, to Nov. 9, 2012, which total $19,650.75. Danny Lewis is accused of "other unauthorized personal use of funds" from a second Bank of the Ozarks account from 2010 to 2013 which total $22,450.82 and of making unauthorized ATM withdrawals from 2010 to 2013 which total $1,340. The Jewells allege Danny Lewis caused them to incur overdraft and insufficient funds fees totaling $10,813.
These new allegations are in response to a counterclaim filed by Texarkana lawyer Steve Harrelson on the Lewises' behalf, which alleges the Jewells owe them $50,000 they invested in Chandler Insurance as well as income and shareholder distributions. The counterclaim further complains that Danny Jewell caused Danny Lewis to be stripped of his license to sell insurance in the state of Arkansas.
When the Jewells initially filed suit in June 2016, they sought compensation for two loans they allegedly made the Lewises totaling less than $25,000 and for attorney fees. The counterclaim Freeze filed on behalf of Chandler Insurance seeks an additional judgment of $99,474.70.
Last month the Texarkana, Ark., Police Department submitted paperwork to the local prosecuting attorney seeking an arrest warrant for Danny Lewis for theft of property. Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Black filed a motion Feb. 3, which was granted the following day, asking that a special prosecutor be assigned to handle the case because of a conflict of interest.
Black's motion to recuse notes Lewis' past status as an elected official in Miller County and refers to a prior relationship between Black and Lewis as landlord and tenant, respectively.
It also states that Black has been identified as a potential witness in the Jewells' civil suit currently pending in Miller County. Black's motion states that the alleged victim in the theft-of-property investigation for which Danny Lewis may soon face charges is a plaintiff in the civil suit filed by the Jewells. Since the appointment of the Arkansas Office of Prosecutor Coordinator, no additional filings have been made in the criminal case involving Danny Lewis.
Danny Lewis' conflict with the Jewells and Chandler Insurance is not the first he has had with a former insurance company employer. Court records in Bowie County, Texas, indicate that Michelle Douglas Insurance Agency sought a restraining order against Danny Lewis in May 2007. The petition for the restraining order notes that Danny Lewis' employment with that agency ended April 19, 2007. The petition alleges Danny Lewis was harassing Michelle Douglas and her employees and contacting customers. A temporary restraining order was granted the following day by retired 202nd District Judge Leon Pesek Jr. In June 2007, an order prohibiting Danny Lewis from coming within 500 feet of Douglas' residence and office and within 50 feet of Douglas or her children was entered. The order enjoined Danny Lewis from calling Michelle Douglas or her children or from using proprietary business information. The order expired nine months after it was entered.
Danny Lewis served as Miller County treasurer from Jan. 1, 2013, until his term expired the last day of 2016. Lewis did not run for re-election as treasurer last year, though he did unsuccessfully run for county judge.