Investigations Press Release
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Michael Deshawn Sawyer, 27, of 1201 Crisp St., Goldsboro. Sawyer 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 Sawyer of falsely reporting that his 2015 Nissan Altima was damaged by gunfire on Nov. 29, 2018, one day after he purchased insurance on the vehicle.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Alexander Mitchell Harris, 20, of 5086 Ches Lane, Kernersville. Harris was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.
According to the arrest warrant, Harris filed a claim with National General Insurance Co. saying that his 2007 Dodge Ram pickup truck had been stolen when the vehicle had been sold to another individual.
The offense occurred between Sept. 12, 2018, and Feb. 14, 2019.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Saphonia Denise Sellars, 26, of 528 N. Scales St., Reidsville. Sellars was charged with felony insurance fraud.
According to the arrest warrant, Sellars told Sentry Insurance Co. that her 2008 Ford Explorer had been stolen when the vehicle had been repossessed about two weeks before the reported theft.
The offense occurred between Dec. 29, 2018, and Jan. 22, 2019.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Anthony M. Watson, 45, of 5606 Bringle Court, Raleigh. Watson was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
According to the arrest warrant, Watson falsely told National General Insurance Co. that his vehicle had been stolen after the vehicle was involved in a collision.
The offense occurred between April 2 and May 6.
Watson was arrested on May 19 and given a $12,500 secured bond.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Tina L. Whitley, 53, of 821 N.C. 581 South, Goldsboro, was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Whitley of telling American Bankers Insurance Co. of Florida that Hurricane Florence caused damage to her heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit in a mobile home insurance claim. According to the criminal summons, Whitley's HVAC unit was in perfect condition.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Alman Michael Coleman, 42, of 4710 Crestfield Road, Summerfield, was charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.
According to the criminal summons, Coleman altered an unemployment claim form on three occasions to obtain $1,105.25 in benefits.
The offenses occurred between June 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of William Lewis Carter III, 40, of 4419 U.S. 701 South, Clarkton. Carter was charged with forgery and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.
According to the arrest warrant, Carter forged the name of a Conserv Equipment Leasing official on a $33,000 check from Conserv Capital and deposited it in a bank account.
The offenses occurred between Oct. 2, 2018, and Nov. 16, 2018.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Deatra Yolanda Wallace, 47, of 3314 Erskine Drive, Charlotte, was charged with felony insurance fraud.
Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Wallace of providing false or misleading information to Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. by claiming that items were stolen from her residence between Jan 13-17.
According to the criminal summons, the photos of the reported stolen items were captured on Jan. 21, days after she claimed they were stolen.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Jerry Cornelius Clemonts, 58, of 4076 Thelma Road, Roanoke Rapids. Clemonts 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 Clemonts of trying to obtain $6,551.25 from Geico by claiming his 2005 Ford F-250 was damaged in a hit-and-run accident, when the vehicle had the damage on it was purchased.
The offenses occurred between June 17 and Aug 13.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of David Keith Phillips, 30, of 282 Carl Garner Road, Newport. Phillips was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
According to the arrest warrant, Phillips reported his Taurus .380 pistol stolen to the Carteret County Sheriff’s office prior to adding the pistol to his USAA Insurance valuable personal property policy on Aug. 23. He filed the claim on Sept. 9, according to the warrant.