Topics Related to NCDOI

Don't let your Fourth of July celebration end with sirens, flashing lights, and a trip to the emergency room. Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey has released a new video showing the dangers of fireworks to remind North Carolinians to leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals. (BROADCAST QUALITY VIDEO - WARNING: Some images in video may be graphic).

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Mary Peters, 36, of the 2100 block Wisteria Drive, Wilmington. Peters was charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Cristal V.V. Joshua, 38, of 128 Georgetown Drive, Clayton. Joshua was charged with three counts of insurance fraud, two counts of obtaining property by false pretense, and one count of attempting to obtain property by false pretense, all felonies.

According to the arrest warrant, Joshua obtained $8,997.32 and attempted to obtain an additional $19,250 from USAA Insurance Agency by filing a renters’ policy insurance claim for damages that did not occur.

Combine the recent cold snap across North Carolina with that of fires that stem from holiday cooking and you have an increased potential for home fires, warns Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey.

“The holidays are a dangerous time of the year for fires because of the use of space heaters as well as the increase in cooking and baking,” said Commissioner Causey. “That’s why it is important for family members to know the dangers space heaters present and to be careful while using the oven and stove, especially with children roaming around the house.”

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has set up five flood insurance conferences statewide to inform the public, insurance and real estate agents of the need to purchase flood insurance, regardless of where you live.

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November and typically during this period, at least one major storm forms and impacts our state. Last year, the flooding from Hurricane Florence devastated thousands of residents who didn’t have flood insurance because they relied on their homeowners’ policy that does not cover damage from rising water.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Wendolyn Diane Yarborough, 56, of 914 Spellman Drive, Fayetteville. Yarborough faces a felony charge of obtaining property by false pretense.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Yarborough of filing a fraudulent beneficiary administrative form to obtain an insurance claim that she was not entitled to receive.

According to the arrest warrant, Yarborough received $50,074.63 from Primerica Life Insurance Co. because of the claim.

With the 2019 hurricane season upon us, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is encouraging residents to be prepared this season to avoid the suffering that followed last year’s Hurricane Florence on the coast and mudflows in the western part of the state. To do this, Commissioner Causey is scheduling disaster relief town hall meetings across the state to inform residents, agents and real estate agents.

The hearing scheduled for the insurance industry's proposed statewide average 17.4% homeowners' insurance rate increase has been extended one month from Sept. 4, 2019, to Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey says he needs the additional time to review the documents filed by the North Carolina Rate Bureau or NCRB.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Eric T. Marshall, 26, and Michelle Jeanette Peppers, 27, both of 6214 Patric Alan Court, Charlotte, were charged with felony insurance fraud.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse the two of providing false information to Geico to support a lost wages claim.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Shalonda Louise Bennett, 43, of 303 Front St., Hamilton. Bennett was charged with felony insurance fraud.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigation Division accuse Bennett of telling National General Insurance Co. that her vehicle was stolen and wrecked, knowing that the vehicle was not stolen.

The offense occurred between Dec. 20-21, 2018. Bennett was arrested on June 26 and given a $5,000 secured bond.