North Carolina Insurance Fraud Round-Up: April

The North Carolina Department of Insurance announced multiple fraud enforcement actions during the month of April 2019.

Insurance fraud costs American consumers approximately $80 billion dollars a year. According to North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, fraud costs North Carolinians between 15 and 20 cents of every dollar paid on insurance premiums — and it’s getting worse.

“Insurance fraud affects our economy. Not only does it damage insurance companies, it cheats businesses and consumers too,” Causey said. “This kind of white-collar crime is unacceptable. That’s why I’ve doubled the number of Special Agents to investigate insurance fraud. Cracking down on fraud will put more money in the pockets of businesses and consumers.”

Details of the incidents, as reported by NCDOI, are as follows:

Randleman Woman Accused of Insurance Fraud

Lizbeth Cabrera Appleget, 30, of Randleman, N.C., was arrested and charged with felony insurance fraud, according to the North Carolina Department of Insurance on April 16.

Appleget is accused of providing a fraudulent tow bill to Geico to support a claim that her auto was damaged after a policy was in effect, the arrest warrant states. However, the warrant says the damage to her vehicle occurred when she had no coverage on it.

The offense occurred between Dec. 14-26, 2018.

Special agents with the NCDOI Criminal Investigations Division, along with Randleman police, arrested Appleget on March 16. She was given a $1,500 secured bond.

Smithfield Woman Arrested for Lying About Auto Accident

Calleigh Marie Grennier, 29, of Smithfield, N.C., was arrested and charged with felony insurance fraud, NCDOI said on April 17.

Grennier is accused by special agents with the NCDOI’s Criminal Investigations Division of making a false and misleading statement regarding an auto insurance claim. According to the arrest warrant, Grennier falsely said she was not driving a car involved in an accident.

The offense occurred between July 4, 2018, and March 27, 2019.

Grennier was arrested on April 12 and given a $20,000 unsecured bond.

Apex Man Charged with Insurance Fraud for Scamming Progressive

Brendal Scott Epling, 30, of Apex, N.C., was charged with felony insurance fraud, Causey said in a statement on April 18.

NCDOI special agents with the Criminal Investigations Division accuse Epling of falsely telling Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. that he and his two minor children were injured during an auto wreck, when none of the three were in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

The offense occurred between Nov. 3-26, 2018.

Epling was arrested on April 5 and released on a written promise to appear in court.

Georgia Man Accused of Staging Fall at Restaurant

Cedric Shropshire, 42, of Calhoun, Ga., was charged with felony insurance fraud after being accused of intentionally falling at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant in Murphy last summer, Causey said in a statement on April 22.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Shropshire of trying to deceive Employers Mutual Casualty Insurance Co. by claiming he slipped on the restaurant’s floor near the bathroom.

According to the arrest warrant, the restaurant’s surveillance video shows Shropshire initially looking down at water on the floor, stepping over the water and then leaving. Moments later, he returned to the restaurant and purposefully fell where the water was located, the warrant says.

The offense occurred between July 30, 2018, and Sept. 1, 2018. Shropshire was arrested March 27 and given a $5,000 secured bond.

Norwood Woman Accused of Filing False Lost Jewelry Claim

Jennifer Dawn Burris, 38, of Norwood, N.C., was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, NCDOI said in a statement on April 22.

According to a criminal summons, Burris told Erie Insurance Co. that her wedding ring had been lost in an attempt to collect a $4,000 claim.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division say Burris admitted during the investigation that the reported loss was false.

The offense occurred between Jan. 11 and April 3. Burris was served with a criminal summons on April 3 and ordered to be in Stanly County District Court on April 29.

Hubert Woman Accused of Providing False Info on Florence Claim

Kasia Alicia Taylor, 34, of Hubert, N.C., was arrested and charged with felony insurance fraud, NCDOI said in a statement on April 30.

Special agents with the NCDOI Criminal Investigations Division accuse Taylor of providing false information to America Bankers Insurance Co. of Florida in a renters’ insurance claim for storm damage from Hurricane Florence, including receipts that were also going to be submitted to another insurance company in a claim.

The offense occurred on Sept. 12, 2018.

Taylor was arrested on April 18 and released on a written promise to appear in Onslow County District Court on May 13.

Taylor’s codefendant, Johnny Lee Henderson Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., was still wanted by the N.C. Department of Insurance at the time of the statement. People with information on Henderson’s whereabouts are asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840.

Brunswick County Woman Charged with Felony Insurance Fraud

Lashandra Jean Humphrey, 34, of Supply, N.C., has been arrested and charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies, Causey said in a statement on April 30.

Special agents with the NCDOI Criminal Investigations Division accuse Humphrey of trying to obtain $2,000 from American Bankers Insurance Co. of Florida by presenting an altered estimate for damages on a homeowners’ claim.

According to the arrest warrant, the offense occurred on Oct. 9, 2018.

Special Agents arrested Humphrey on April 26. She was given a $5,000 secured bond and is due in Brunswick County District Court on June 6.

Topics Trends Auto Fraud Agencies North Carolina