Travis County District Attorney’s Office Announces Three Indictments Against The Aliera Companies, Inc. and Sharity Ministries, Inc. Executive

TRAVIS COUNTY, TX — Today, the Travis County District Attorney’s office announced that a Travis County Grand Jury indicted several Georgia-based corporate executives with doing the business of insurance in the State of Texas without a license.

The Grand Jury formally charged both Shelley Steele and Chase Moses, the CEO and President of The Aliera Companies, Inc. (formerly known as Aliera Healthcare, Inc.), respectively, with twelve counts of Unauthorized Insurance Business.

The charges allege that in January 2020, Steele and Moses collected money for insurance and assisted insurers with the collecting of money for insurance from Texans for insurance sold by Aliera and Sharity Ministries, Inc. (then known as Trinity Healthshare, Inc.). Neither Aliera, Sharity, Steele, or Moses was ever licensed to issue insurance or perform insurance-related acts in Texas.

The Grand Jury also indicted William “Rip” Thead, the CEO of Sharity Ministries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, with twelve counts of Unauthorized Insurance Business. The indictment alleges that in May 2020, Thead adjusted claims or losses and determined whether to pay claims filed by Texas consumers of the insurance offered by Aliera and Sharity.  Thead was not licensed to perform those insurance acts in Texas.

The offense of Unauthorized Insurance Business is a third-degree felony punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or confinement for a term of two to ten years.

The investigation was conducted by the Texas Department of Insurance’s Fraud Unit, and the prosecution will be handled by the Travis County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Complex Crimes Unit.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has a special prosecutor assigned to work in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, focused on insurance-related crimes.

“Our office will hold accountable powerful actors who violate our laws,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza.

“This was a collaborative effort between our office and the Texas Department of Insurance, and I appreciate our
partnership.”

Texas Insurance Commissioner Cassie Brown said TDI fraud staff spent years building the case with Travis County.

“This was truly an example of a group effort. I’m pleased we were able to share the expertise of our fraud investigators and analysts to bring this case to an indictment.”

All three cases are currently pending in the 167th District Court.

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