North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Mary Nicole Midgett, 33, of 114 Eagle Drive, Kill Devil Hills. Midgett was charged with three counts of making false statements to obtain unemployment benefits, three counts of obtaining property by false pretense, three counts of unauthorized access to government computers and one count of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense, all felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Midgett of providing false information on her unemployment insurance application under the CARES Act to receive benefits totaling $42,918. The insurance benefits included two co-conspirators who had previously been charged.
The offenses occurred between March 24, 2020, and Feb. 9, 2021.
Midgett was arrested on Feb. 10. She was given a $30,000 secured bond. She is scheduled to be in Dare County District Court on Feb. 25.
Since 2017, Commissioner Causey has more than doubled the number of special agents investigating fraud and white-collar crimes. As a result, special agents from 2017 through 2020 have made 1,612 arrests.
To report suspected fraud, contact the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840. Callers may remain anonymous. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.