Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner sentenced to 3½ years in prison

John Oxendine, former Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate and state insurance commissioner, has been sentenced to 3 1⁄2 years in prison following his guilty plea to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Oxendine, 62, who admitted his role in a $3 million scheme, will also be fined $25,000 and required to pay over $760,000 in restitution. He remains on bond until he surrenders to federal prison authorities.

Oxendine served as Georgia’s insurance commissioner for 16 years and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010. During his sentencing, he expressed deep remorse, calling his actions “stupid, stupid, stupid” and pleaded for leniency from U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones. Upon release, Oxendine will face three years of supervision.

As part of a plea deal, Oxendine was allowed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He expressed shame and apologized for his actions, acknowledging his responsibility.

Oxendine follows in the footsteps of another former Georgia insurance commissioner, Jim Beck, who is currently serving over seven years in federal prison for embezzling more than $2 million from the Georgia Underwriting Association to fund his 2018 campaign.

Oxendine admitted his wrongdoing In court, and attributed his actions to a misguided attempt to please his friend and client, Gallups. “I got it wrong,” he said. “I just didn’t want to say ‘no’ to somebody, and it was just stupid. It’s my fault. I was the lawyer.”