Topics Related to NCDOI

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Annie Witherspoon Johnson, 40, of 1722 Ninth Avenue NW, Hickory, NC. Johnson is charged with two counts of identity theft, both are felonies.

According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Johnson used credit card information belonging to another person to make a payment towards her own vehicle insurance. Agents assisted the Hickory Police Department with the investigation.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has set April 7, 2025, as the hearing date for a proposed increase in mobile homeowners’ insurance rates requested by the North Carolina Rate Bureau.

The Rate Bureau, which represents insurance companies and is not a part of the N.C. Department of Insurance, has requested an overall state average increase of 82.9% for mobile home fire policies (MH-F) over a three-year period. The insurance companies have requested an overall state average increase of 49.9% for mobile home casualty policies (MH-C) over a three-year period.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will address the media ahead of the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29 at the entrance to the Exchange Nature Center in Kinston, NC.

The center is located within the Neuseway Nature Park, 401 West Caswell St., Kinston. Commissioner Causey is expected to be joined by other state, county and city officials for the event. 

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Matthew Scott Schuhmacher, 47, of 6211 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington. Schuhmacher was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey urges North Carolinians to be safe on the water during Memorial Day Weekend by offering water, boating safety and insurance tips as part of National Safe Boating Week, which runs May 18-24.

“Beaches, lakes and pools will be crowded this Memorial Day weekend,” said Commissioner Causey. “The best way to stay safe on the water is to always wear a life jacket, follow safe boating practices like avoiding alcohol, and prepare for the unexpected by having the proper insurance plan in place.”

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is cautioning North Carolinians to be on the lookout for door-to-door salesmen posing as agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance who seek to sell fake insurance to unsuspecting consumers.

Agents with the department’s Criminal Investigations Division have been informed of at least two recent instances of this type of activity and are currently investigating the complaints. This is the fourth time since 2020 that there have been reports of NCDOI imposter agents acting as salesmen.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Scott Christopher Daniels, 48, of 1522 Whispering Wood S. Court, Wilmington, NC. Daniels was charged with one count of insurance fraud, a felony.

According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Daniels attempted to defraud Peak Property and Casualty Insurance by providing a written and verbal statement that his vehicle was damaged by fire. An investigation later revealed that the fire had been intentionally set.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Marissa Marie Schultz, 27, of 418 Ellis Rd., Bolivia. Schultz was charged with attempting to obtain property by false pretense, a felony.

Special agents with the Criminal Investigations Division of the NC Department of Insurance accuse Schultz of attempting to obtain a license to sell life insurance from the North Carolina Department of Insurance by submitting an altered life insurance exam diagnostic report to the N.C. Licensing Office.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Sabrina Levonda Smallwood, 50, of 600 Middle St., Tarboro, NC. Smallwood was charged with two counts of insurance fraud and two counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense. Each of the four charges are felonies.

Smallwood’s daughter, Alasa Millennium Johnson, 24, also of 600 Middle St., was previously charged by agents in March with the same four felony counts in connection with this case.

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey issued the following statement today regarding the federal jury guilty verdict against Greg Lindberg:

“I wholeheartedly agree with the statement that U.S. Attorney Dena J. King made yesterday regarding the guilty verdict handed down against Greg Lindberg.

"Since the day I was sworn in as Commissioner of Insurance I have led the fight against fraud and corruption.