North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Victor Deontray Bannerman, 43, of 1827 Chapel Brook Way, Greensboro. Bannerman was charged with insurance fraud, attempting to obtain property by false pretense, common law forgery and common law uttering, all felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division accuse Bannerman of producing a forged invoice from Kirk Sineath Towing to support a fraudulent insurance claim on his automobile policy with Erie Insurance Co. Bannerman created the invoice to show an inflated towing charge of $1,581.06, submitted the invoice as a supporting document to the claim and also spoke with the Erie adjuster, claiming the same information to be true.
The offenses occurred on June 11. Bannerman was arrested on Aug. 31 by the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office and was given no bond. He is scheduled to appear in court in Guilford County on Oct. 14.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to a crime that syphons billions of dollars from taxpayers each year,” Commissioner Causey said. “Insurance fraud must be reported to help hold down future rate increases.”
If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.