North Carolina Arrests Made in 3 Alleged Auto Insurance Scams

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced the arrest of Raquel Pineda, 31, of Mount Olive. She was charged with one count each of insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense.

Department of Insurance criminal investigators allege that Pineda conspired to defraud Sentry Insurance Co. of $10,600 by purchasing auto insurance coverage for her vehicle one month after it was allegedly stolen. The stolen vehicle report is still being investigated by the Department of Insurance.

Pineda was arrested in Wayne County on Nov. 20 and placed under a $2,500 unsecured bond.

Officials also announced two other insurance case arrests.

Officials said Edward Freeman, 41, of Belhaven was arrested and was charged with one count of each of insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense. Investigators allege that Freeman insured the same vehicle with two different insurance companies and filed multiple claims with each company for damage from the same accident. Direct Auto Insurance and Progressive Insurance paid Freeman more than $8,600 to settle the claims.

Freeman was arrested in Beaufort County on Nov. 20 and placed under a $5,000 unsecured bond.

Also, officials announced that Kim Leverne Pyatt, 42, of Atkinson was arrested and charged with two counts of insurance fraud and one count of obtaining property by false pretense.

Department of Insurance criminal investigators allege that Pyatt submitted fraudulent medical documents to Allstate Insurance Co. in support of a claim for reimbursement for medical treatment he received as the result of an injury at his home.

Pyatt was arrested on Nov. 21 and placed under a $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Pender County District Court on Nov. 26.

Topics Auto Fraud North Carolina