Topics Related to Fraud Control/Investigations

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Annie Darlene Bell, 49, of 900 N. Virginia St., Goldsboro. Bell was charged with felony insurance fraud.

According to the arrest warrant, Bell added a 2008 Acura to a Progressive Insurance Co. auto policy knowing that damage to the car occurred before the addition was made. The offense occurred between Nov. 12, 2018, and Dec. 12, 2018.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division arrested Bell on Jan. 15. She was given a $5,000 unsecured bond.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Special Agents have arrested a Texas man on charges of embezzling $83,196.73 between December 2015 and March 2016.

Andrew Bryant Belk, 29, of Frisco, Texas, was charged with 16 counts of felony embezzlement and 16 counts of felony conspiracy to embezzle funds from IAT Insurance Group Inc. while working for the insurance company.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Amber Lashae Morrison, 31, of 12521 Rocky Ford Road, Laurinburg. Ford was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Morrison of falsely telling Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. that her 2015 Malibu was damaged by a tree during a hurricane.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Kahlisemon Da Aru Anwar Ortiz, 34, of 1917 Taylor Ave., Charlotte. Ortiz was charged with felony insurance fraud.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Ortiz of falsely claiming lost wages as a result of an automobile accident. Ortiz claimed he was employed by and lost wages from Get a Gryp Fitness in Brooklyn, N.Y., a company that does not exist, according to the arrest warrant.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Jimmy Edward Brown, 36, of 811 Surl-Mount Tirzah Road, Timberlake. Brown was charged with felony insurance fraud.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Brown of giving Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Co. false information when filing an automobile policy claim.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Clifton Lewis Lemons, 65, of 105 Old Lexington Road, Thomasville, and his daughter, Brandena Leigh Lemons, 36, 302 Richardson Ave., High Point. Both were charged with insurance fraud, obtaining property by false pretense, and conspiracy, all felonies.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Christopher Shawn Brice, 27, of Marietta, Ga. Brice was charged with two counts of felony conspiracy.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Brice of conspiring with Andrew Bryant Belk to embezzle funds from IAT Insurance Group. Belk was arrested earlier.

The offense occurred between Feb. 2, 2016, and March 14, 2016.

Special Agents and Wake County deputies arrested Brice on Feb. 5. He was given a $10,000 secured bond.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Dwight Eugene Bell Jr., 30, of 920 Bryan Place, Garner, on multiple charges involving renters' insurance policies.

Bell is charged with five counts of felony insurance fraud, three counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense, two counts of felony attempting to obtain property by false pretense, felony possession of a card forgery device, felony conspiracy, and misdemeanor possession or manufacture of a fraudulent ID.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Stephanie Blackwood, 34, of 428 Settlers Ridge Drive, Kannapolis. Blackwood was charged with two counts of insurance fraud and two counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense, all felonies.

According to the arrest warrants, Blackwood filed two false claims with Progressive Insurance Co. for damage to a vehicle. The first claim was filed before the policy went into effect. The second involved a claim that had previously been reported.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Melissa Anne Oldfield, 25, of 580 E. McRainey Road, Saint Pauls, was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Oldfield of providing a misleading statement and a false handwritten diagnostic report to USAA Insurance to support a renters' insurance claim that stated two television sets were damaged by an electrical surge after Hurricane Florence.