Investigations Press Release
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of a former fire chief in Caldwell County on charges of embezzling $155,299 from his volunteer fire department.
Brian Jason Edwards, 49, of 4262 Grace Chapel Road, Granite Falls, was charged with embezzlement, common law forgery and six counts of obtaining property by false pretense.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrests of James Otis Perry, 76, of 610 E. Montgomery St., Henderson, and James DeCarlo Alston, 44, of 177 Tungsten Mine Road, Henderson. Both were charged with felony breaking and entering and felonious restraint. The two were also charged with acting as a bail bondsman without a license and simple assault, both misdemeanors.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Jacquelyn Elizabeth Franklin, 52, of 234 Mountain Oak Lane, Hickory. Franklin was charged with obtaining property by false pretense, a felony.
According to special agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Franklin obtained a plate from the North Carolina License Plate Office by providing a false insurance policy number.
The incident occurred on July 22, according to the arrest warrants.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Audra Lynn Claypoole, 34, of 2513 31st Avenue Place NE, Hickory. Claypoole was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Claypoole of falsely filing a claim with Integon Indemnity Corp. by claiming that her foot was run over or struck by a man’s vehicle after she got into an argument with a passenger in the vehicle.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today that Kristen Lee Carter, 34, of 114 N. Meade St., Greenville, N.C. was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense. Both charges are felonies.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Latasha Michelle Regis, 48, of 120 Jackson Road, Nashville. Regis was charged with obtaining property by false pretense, a felony.
According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Regis obtained a payment from Hans Mumm for a residential construction project knowing that the project would not be completed. The value of the payment she received was $132,852.93.
The incident occurred on Nov. 5, 2020, according to the arrest warrants.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Kristen Elisabeth Fioriti, 28, of 150 Croom Lane, Jacksonville. Fioriti is charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Fioriti had an accident while her insurance had lapsed; however, she told Peak Property and Casualty Insurance Corp. that the accident occurred after she reinstated her policy.
The incident occurred on May 30, according to arrest warrants.
As the Department of Insurance continues to respond to Hurricane Helene with other local, state and federal agencies, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is urging North Carolinians to protect themselves and their property from scammers and home repairs that could be fraudulent activity.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Latisha Michelle Rorie, 36, of 2801 Westbury Lake Drive, Charlotte, N.C. Rorie is charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Rorie provided a fictitious invoice to Liberty Mutual to try to obtain a payment from a renter’s insurance policy.
The incident occurred on August 27, 2023, according to arrest warrants.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Demetra Bates Poag, 37, of 154 Charleys Creek Road, Tuckasegee, N.C. Poag is charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Poag, a licensed insurance agent, claimed she was in a car accident on May 15, 2024 when the accident actually occurred on May 12, 2024, while she was uninsured. The amount of the claim was for $4,314.