Topics Related to Fraud Control/Investigations

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Sheldon James May, 27, of Columbus, Ga. May is charged with felony conspiracy.

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

The offense occurred between March 8-9, 2016.

Special Agents and Wake County deputies arrested May on Feb. 7. He was given a $3,000 secured bond.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of a Raleigh woman accused of filing false unemployment insurance claims while being employed full time.

Janice Bell, 52, of 6804 Chesterbrook Court, Raleigh, was charged with 13 counts of insurance fraud and 13 counts of obtaining property by false pretense, all felonies.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Bell of obtaining $5,017.53 from Triton Insurance Co. by filing false unemployment claims.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Darren Jacob Surratt, 35, of 160 Flowering Grove Lane, Mooresville. Surratt was charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Surratt of taking out an automobile insurance policy with Permanent General Assurance Corp. one and one-half hours after having an auto accident on Jan. 7, and then filing an insurance claim for payment three days later.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of James Anthony Bowman, 36, of 98 Vaughn Circle, Fletcher. Bowman was charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.

According to the arrest warrant, Bowman falsely reported to National General Insurance Co. that his Lexus ES 350 was stolen. The insurance company provided Bowman with a rental vehicle and a $9,710 settlement as a result of the claim, the warrant says.

The offenses occurred on July 1, 2018.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Taekwon Connor, 42, of 2612 New Garden Road, Greensboro. Connor was charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Connor of filing a claim with N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance for damages to his 2011 Infiniti that had been previously paid for by Nationwide Insurance.

The offenses occurred between May 14, 2018, and July 19, 2018.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Tianda Patrice Tuft, 37, of 307 Ranelagh Drive, Waxhaw, 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 Tuft of filing a claim with Geico Insurance Co. for damage to a vehicle while knowing that the damage was from a previous claim with a different insurance company.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Jamarus Jaquis Hamilton, 25, pf 404 Vine St., High Point. Hamilton was charged with felony insurance fraud.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Hamilton of filing a claim with Allstate Insurance for damages to a 2006 Dodge Charger on July 15, 2018, knowing that a claim had been filed with the insurance company for the same damages on June 21, 2018.

Hamilton was arrested on Feb. 20. He was given a $500 secured bond.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Jason Lee Hinson, 46, of 843 Gallimore Dairy Road, High Point, was charged with felony insurance fraud.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Hinson of providing false information relating to an auto policy claim with Progressive Insurance.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Shawntel Gonzalez, 29, of 506 S. Mineral Springs Drive, Jonesville. Gonzalez was charged with felony insurance fraud.

According to the arrest warrant, Gonzalez provided Assurant Insurance Co. with a fraudulent lease as a part of an insurance liability claim involving a structure fire.

The offense occurred between Oct. 18, 2018, and Dec. 18, 2018.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the conviction of a former Johnston County volunteer fire chief, who was given probation and ordered to repay more than $23,000 he took after filing fraudulent insurance claims for fire department equipment.