Topics Related to NCDOI

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Latoya Tanika Johnson, 36, of 1545 Gaston St., Winston-Salem. Johnson 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 Johnson of providing fraudulent receipts totaling $10,817.62 in support of a renters’ insurance claim for two guitars that were stolen during a break-in.

The offenses occurred on May 14.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Joquetta Jacqueline Clair, 23, of 10038 Orchard Grass Court, Charlotte, has been charged with insurance fraud, a felony.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Clair of presenting a fictitious invoice from a collision center to her insurance company showing that damage to her 2015 Dodge Charger had been repaired when the collision center never did the repair work nor produced the invoice.

The offense occurred on March 23.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Tracie Michelle Famber, 59, of 1220 Echo Glen Road, Charlotte, and Terrance Antoine Hunter, 40, of 13505 Bryton Gap Blvd., Huntersville. Both were charged with four counts of felony embezzlement.

According to arrest warrants, the two embezzled insurance payments totaling $47,106.06 from four clients.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Joquetta Jacqueline Clair, 23, of 10038 Orchard Grass Court, Charlotte, has been charged with insurance fraud, a felony.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Clair of presenting a fictitious invoice from a collision center to her insurance company showing that damage to her 2015 Dodge Charger had been repaired when the collision center never did the repair work nor produced the invoice.

The offense occurred on March 23.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey issued the following statement responding to the passing of the state budget by the General Assembly:

“While I deeply appreciate the 7% pay increase over two years for state employees, I am disappointed at some of the items added to the budget that negatively impact the fire service and our volunteer firefighters in North Carolina. 

A newly-formed investigative unit created to combat disability fraud will include two North Carolina state agencies along with two partner agencies from the federal government.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is joining Safe Kids Pitt County Director Ellen Walston and North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program Director Mark Ezzell to help save children’s lives by making sure families use a properly installed child safety seat in their vehicles.

To kick off Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs Sept. 17-23, families and media are invited to a Child Passenger Safety Clinic on Monday, Sept. 18, at the Kohl’s parking lot in Greenville to show how properly installed child restraints can greatly improve the safety of a child.

UPDATE: On Aug. 1, 2024, Derek Ezzell pleaded guilty to misdemeanor larceny. He received a suspended 45-day sentence, was given 12 months of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay $375 in court costs. All other charges were dismissed.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Derek Urban Ezzell, 56, of 9695 Moss Plantation Ave. NW, Concord, was charged with identity theft and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Malik Amir Rudolph, 28, of 3425 Sunbright Lane, Raleigh. Rudolph was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.

According to the arrest warrant, Rudolph attempted to collect on an automobile insurance claim with Geico Insurance Co. by providing false information to the company.

The Department of Insurance launched a new podcast today designed to help inform consumers on various insurance topics and promote the many programs located within the department. 

Insurance Insights will focus on how to protect what people value most -- their family, home, property and health. The first episode can be accessed via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast apps and can be found here: https://www.ncdoi.gov/insurance-insights-podcast.