The arrests of 13 Halifax County, N.C. residents who allegedly masterminded a family auto insurance fraud ring that swindled insurance companies out of $56,000 in fraudulent motorcycle and auto claims has been announced by North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long.
“This is one of the largest arrests in recent department history,” Long explained. “Our investigators had to seek out each suspect separately. We now have the opportunity to investigate this case more carefully and potential to see the suspects in court.”
The investigation were coordinated between the Insurance Commission, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Department and Department of Motor Vehicle License Theft Enforcement officers.
Claims adjusters from Nationwide, Geico and GMAC insurance companies grew suspicious of possible fraudulent activity after claims with strikingly similar stories and circumstances began popping up in Durham, Rocky Mount, Ahoskie, Roanoke Rapids, Oxford and Raleigh. From February to June of 2005, investigators suspect that an estimated 13 motorcycle crashes were deliberately caused so the defendants could collect insurance payments.
Twelve of the 13 suspects were taken into custody last week and the suspected ringleader, Joe Louis Jefferson (also known as Andrew Stansberry) of Roanoke Rapids, was arrested Feb. 2.
Others arrested include: Danzella Evans of Enfield; Timothy K. Harvey of Roanoke Rapids; Nathan Higgs of Roanoke Rapids; Reginald R. Ivey of Roanoke Rapids; Donnie M. Jefferson of Littleton; Joe L. Jefferson of Roanoke Rapids; Sapata D. Jefferson of Littleton; Michael Stansbury of Roanoke Rapids; Carlton L. Wilkins of Littleton; Turrell Wills of Littleton; Christopher L. Wood of Halifax; and Jackie J. Wood of Littleton.
Charges included obtaining property by false pretenses, financial identity fraud and conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses. Several of the suspects had prior records for other charges as well.
The Department of Insurance employs 21 sworn law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating claims of insurance fraud. In 2005, these investigators saw 90 cases successfully closed with more than $25.8 million recovered in restitution and 52 guilty convictions.
Topics Auto Fraud North Carolina
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