Topics Related to NCDOI

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Lydia Sabrina Smith, 56, of 2025 Ricks Chapman Drive, Charlotte. Smith was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.

According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Smith submitted a false invoice for repairs to a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox to Nationwide Insurance Co. for an automobile insurance claim.

The offense occurred on July 5, 2023.

Smith was arrested on Feb. 6 and released under a $5,000 unsecured bond.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrests of three individuals connected with illegal bail bond related activities in Surry County.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Dashanique Winston, 22, of 2611 Broadwell Drive, Raleigh. Winston is charged with one count of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies. She is also charged with operating a vehicle with no license, a misdemeanor.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Demario Antwan Metcalf, 37, of 2109 NE 24th St., Winston-Salem. Metcalf was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations division accuse Metcalf of attempting to obtain $8,000 through a renters’ insurance claim from Allstate Insurance Co. by falsifying statements, pictures of damaged items and documents to support the claim.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Asiah Lenee Person, 30, of 5028 Hilltop Road, Greensboro. Person was charged with one count of forgery of an instrument and one count of uttering a forged endorsement, both felonies.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Nathan Javonte Chambers, 27, of 8197 Wood St., Mount Pleasant. Chambers is charged with embezzlement and conversion by a bailee, both felonies.

According to the arrest warrant, Chambers, a bail bond agent with 123 Bail Bonding, embezzled $200,000 from a client and converting it to his own use.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division note that the victim had used 123 Bail Bonding’s services in Mecklenburg County to post a $25,000 bond on June 23, 2023.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced today the arrest of Deshawn Dante Townes, 32, of 614 Oakwood Ave., Sanford. Townes is charged with three counts of a bail bondsman impersonating a law enforcement officer. All three charges are misdemeanors.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that North Carolina’s Captive Insurance Program continues to grow and contribute to the state’s economy more than a decade after its inception.

“Businesses with unique insurance needs are finding North Carolina a great place to conduct business through its Captive Insurance Program,” Commissioner Causey said. “We’re excited by the continued growth of our captive program and welcome the innovation that service providers bring to address emerging risks in the industry.”

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Matthew Jackson Swift, 42, of 402 Ladonia Church Road, Mount Airy. Swift is charged with two counts of insurance fraud, two counts of common law forgery, two counts of identity theft and two counts of common law uttering. All eight charges are felonies.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today fined UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc. and its affiliate UnitedHealthcare Insurance Co. $3.4 million following over four years investigating the companies’ claims handling practices involving balance billing.

In addition to the fine, UnitedHealthcare agreed to provide the Department of Insurance with a corrective action plan to address violations uncovered in the investigation and submit to future compliance examinations.