Topics Related to NCDOI

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today that Patrick Jared Crocker, 38, of 72 Old Mallard Road, Smithfield, has been charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense. Both offenses are felonies.

According to special agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Crocker presented false statements during correspondence to Progressive Premier Insurance Company of Illinois in an attempt to obtain $3,416.93 in payments.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Bradley Lamar Armstrong, 39, of 319 West Hwy. 150 Bypass, Lincolnton. Armstrong is charged with embezzlement, conversion, common law forgery and common law uttering. All four charges are felonies.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Cindy Ramzi Hanna, 48, of 2507 Dumfries Road, Greensboro. Hanna is charged with two counts of insurance fraud and one count each of identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense. All four charges are felonies.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Kisha Shawwanda Lane, 51, of 8033 Truelight Church Road, Mint Hill. Lane is charged with forgery of an instrument, identity theft, larceny, obtaining property by false pretense, attempting to obtain property by false pretense, accessing computers illegally and exploiting the trust of the disabled or elderly. All seven counts are felonies.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Wayne Anthony Artis, 45, of 190 Sparrow Road, Eden. Artis is charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense.

According to special agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Artis told Progressive Southeastern Insurance Group that the windows of his vehicle were damaged by vandalism during coverage, when the damage actually occurred prior to coverage. The value of the repair was listed at $1,406,07.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Pernell Junior Shoulars, 46, of 1613 Middle Creek Court, Fayetteville. Shoulars is charged with obtaining property by false pretense, a felony, and failure to work after payment, a misdemeanor.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that three bail bond agents have been charged in a Jackson County break-in.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division have filed charges against Christian Paul Field, 23, of 175 Secret Medow Lane, Whittier; Sarah Gwenath Cochran, 38, of 270 Breedlove Road, Bryson City, and Kevin Patrick Field, 45, of 24-B Staple Road, Sylva. Kevin Field is Christian Field’s father.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has announced that two Victim Assistance Centers (VAC) have been scheduled to open in Macon and Buncombe counties to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene.

A VAC will open in the Macon County town of Franklin on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The VAC will be located at the Macon County Public Health Center, located at 1830 Lakeside Dr., Franklin, N.C., 28734 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has announced that another Victim Assistance Center (VAC) has been added to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. The new VAC will open in the Mitchell County town of Bakersville on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

The VAC will be located at the Mitchell County Senior Center, 152 Ledger School Road, Bakersville, N.C. 28705 on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of David Fitzgerald Bishop Jr., of 135 Fieldcreek Court, Winston-Salem. Bishop is charged with obtaining property by false pretense and common law forgery, both felonies.

According to special agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Bishop obtained $290,482.76 from Wilson Brothers Milling Co. by providing the company with a false certificate of liability insurance to gain payment. 

The incident occurred on July 30, 2023, according to the arrest warrants.