Topics Related to Fraud Control/Investigations

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Alexis Camrey Washington Thompson, 29, of 196 Rock Hill Road, Maple Hill. Thompson was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.

Special agents with the Department of insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Thompson of filing a renters’ insurance claim with Markel American Insurance Co., saying that items were stolen during a break-in at her residence when the items had actually been sold.

The offense occurred on June 1.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Blair Terell Lofton, 29, of 3235 Pleasant Garden Road, Greensboro. Lofton was charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.

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.