A former Alfa agent pleaded guilty Wednesday to mail fraud.

Bret Chappell, 44, of Warrior, entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco.

As part of his scheme, according to a joint announcement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, Chappell received funds from victims totaling $862,286.55.

Chappell still faces nearly a dozen felony crimes in state court.

According to the plea agreement, Chappell was a licensed insurance agent working for Alfa Corporation in Hayden.

Between 2019 and 2022, he devised a scheme to defraud numerous victims into surrendering existing Alfa life insurance policies for cash value and buying new Alfa life Insurance policies covering the victims.

In one instance, federal authorities say, he convinced an elderly victim that Alfa offered certificates of deposit for purchase, when in fact Alfa is not a financial institution and does not offer certificates of deposit.

Nonetheless, Chappell convinced the victim to cash two certificates of deposit from another bank, based on the belief that the victim would receive the product promised by Chappell.

Chappell also prepared fraudulent documents that were reported to be issued by Alfa and delivered those fake documents to the victims.

Chappell convinced the victims to endorse the checks issued to them by Alfa.

However, authorities said, rather than using the funds to buy legitimate policies covering the victims, Chappell deposited the funds into his personal bank account.

A sentencing date has not been announced. The maximum penalty for mail fraud is 20 years in prison.

In state court, Chappell is charged with 10 felony crimes, including first-degree insurance fraud, first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly and first-degree theft of property by deception.

State court records contend Chappell’s actions led to $66,360 taken from one couple, $201,957 taken from a third victim and $355,200 taken from a fourth victim.

Blount County officials previously said Chappell “absconded to the Republic of Cuba to avoid extradition,” before his February arrest on the state charges.