Topics Related to Fraud Control/Investigations

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Chastity Dawn Keeter, 36, of 508 Sioux Drive, Jacksonville, NC. Keeter was charged with one count of second-degree arson, two counts of first-degree arson, two counts of burning personal property and one count of attempting first-degree arson, all felonies. She was also charged with three misdemeanor counts of child abuse.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Tristan Marcel Martin Jr., 35, of 230 Barlow Circle, Winston Salem, NC. Martin was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies. 

According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Martin attempted to obtain money from Phillips Corporation and USAA Insurance. He attempted to claim $1,978.86 by falsifying paystubs for an automobile policy.  

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Autum Larrae Nicholson, 34, of 1002 Monitor Drive, Wilmington, NC. Nicholson was charged with two counts of insurance fraud, both felonies. 

According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Nicholson provided false statements regarding automobile accidents on two separate occasions to Progressive Premier Insurance Company. 

According to the arrest warrants, the offenses occurred on May 26 and June 16.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Tyrannia Marcia Ellerbe, 47, of 112 Little Street, Rockingham, NC. Ellerbe was charged with aiding and abetting  unlicensed bail bonding, a misdemeanor.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Ellerbe of utilizing the assistance of an unlicensed individual to perform bail bonding duties. The unlicensed individual is also being charged and has an outstanding warrant for arrest for unlicensed bail bonding.

The offenses occurred on April 22.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of David Ward Heath, 76, of 209 S. Croom Bland Road, Kinston, NC. Heath was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies. 

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Ashley Waters Lowery, 38, of 188 Owens Chapel Road, Union Mills, NC. Lowery was charged with one count of insurance fraud which is a felony.

According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Lowery attempted to defraud Progressive Insurance Company by issuing false statements in regards to a vehicle collision for automobile insurance.

According to the arrest warrant, Lowery provided oral statements to the insurer on Jan. 10, 2023.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Jacob Howard Bishop, 29, of 2010 Sandy Mush Road, Marshall, NC. Bishop was charged with accessing computers, a misdemeanor.

According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Bishop signed off on fire fighter training hours for trainees who did not attend class. Bishop is a former firefighter with the Leicester Fire Department.

According to the arrest warrant, Bishop’s offense occurred on Jan. 1, 2018.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Shaquanda Andrews, 37, of 3980 Sunny Lane Drive, Ayden, NC. Andrews was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies. 

According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Andrews attempted to obtain money from USAA, by filing a false power outage claim, in order to receive a settlement of $500 for food spoilage.

According to the arrest warrants, the offenses occurred on Nov. 15, 2023.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of April Cemillya Thomas, 43, of 121 Wright Court, Vass, NC. Thomas was charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies. 

According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Thomas fraudulently and knowingly obtained $8,660 of accident insurance from the American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (AFLAC). 

According to the arrest warrants, the offenses occurred on Jan 18.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Mitchell Ketchen Mullen, 49, of 2262 Isaac St., Concord, NC. Mullen was charged with one felony conversion by a bailee, two misdemeanor charges of prohibited practices in bail bonding and one misdemeanor of failure to properly document affidavit for collection.