Topics Related to NCDOI

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Raymond Irvine Laster III, 28, of 831 Greenhaven Drive, Greensboro. Laster was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies, along with misdemeanor making false statements on an insurance application.

According to the arrest warrant, Laster obtained an automobile insurance policy from National General Insurance Co. after he wrecked the car but claimed the crash occurred after he took out the policy.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced that 21.9 million pills were collected during the highly successful fall 2020 statewide Operation Medicine Drop campaign.

The pills, which won’t end up in the wrong hands or in our waterways, were collected by 126 law enforcement agencies and more than 400 drop boxes across North Carolina during the annual Take Back Event.

The prescription medications were delivered to a state-approved incinerator where they were destroyed.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has sounded the alarm on the growing consumer scam by fake debt collectors in North Carolina. The N.C. Department of Insurance regulates debt collectors, and debt collectors must have a permit from the department to conduct business in the state.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Anthony Marquis Byrd Jr., 34, of 7605 Holy Grove Court, Charlotte, was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.

According to the criminal summons, Byrd tried to deceive Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. by misrepresenting where he was sitting in a 2017 Chevrolet when it was involved in a collision.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Felicia M. Shields, 38, of 46 Colt Lane, Dunn. Shields was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Shields of providing fictitious documents in support of an automobile insurance claim with National General Insurance co.

The offense occurred on June 24.

Shields was arrested on Oct. 26. She was released under a $500 unsecured bond pending a Nov. 13 appearance in Sampson County District Court.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Taniyha Daniels, 20, of 2324 Saddleback Drive, Winterville. Daniels is charged with obtaining property by false pretense, a felony.

According to the arrest warrant, Daniels accepted money to post a bond when she was not a licensed bail bond agent in North Carolina.

The offense occurred between Nov. 14-15, 2019.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced Friday that the Wake County Superior Court has granted him flexibility so he can help people holding annuity contracts with two insurance companies, Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Co. and Bankers Life Insurance Co., now in rehabilitation under the Department’s oversight.

The order will allow the annuity contract owners with these two companies to have a one-time option for a limited partial withdrawal of funds.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Ellen Page Newton, 54, of 285 T. Kemp Road, Louisburg. Newton was charged with making a false statement to obtain unemployment insurance benefits and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.

According to the arrest warrant, Newton obtained $12,840 in unemployment payments after certifying that she lost her job because of a COVID-19 layoff.  An investigation revealed Newton was, in fact, self-employed and had not reported wages for 2019 or 2020. 

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey urges residents to be proactive to lessen or prevent any losses that may stem from Tropical Storm Zeta by securing loose furniture and articles on the outside of their property.  The storm is forecasted to bring powerful wind gusts and moderate rain to North Carolina, especially in the western part of the state. 

With the end of daylight saving time approaching on Sunday, Nov. 1, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, reminds families to practice this life-saving habit:  When you change your clock this weekend for the end of daylight saving time, remember to change the battery in your smoke alarm.