4 in North Carolina Arrested on Auto Insurance Fraud Charges

Four people have been arrested in North Carolina for their alleged involvement in a series of automobile insurance fraud schemes worth more than $9,000, according to state officials.

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said each was processed at the Pitt County Detention Center:

• Derrick Vontrell Lewis, Greenville, was charged with four felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense, four felony counts of insurance fraud and three felony counts of conspiracy. He was placed under a $3,000 secured bond.
• Tanisha Learnell Williams, Greenville, was charged with three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense, three felony counts of insurance fraud and three felony counts of conspiracy. She was placed under a $3,000 secured bond
• Angela Harris Williams, Greenville, was charged with two counts of obtaining property by false pretense, two felony counts of insurance fraud and one felony count of conspiracy. She was placed under a $10,000 unsecured bond.
• Sharon Williams Davis, Greenville, was charged with one felony count of obtaining property by false pretense and one felony count of insurance fraud. She was placed under a $5,000 unsecured bond.

Department investigators allege that in 2008 and 2009, Lewis, Tanisha Williams and Angela Williams filed fraudulent vandalism claims to GEICO Insurance Co., GMAC Insurance Co. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. They are accused of filing multiple vandalism claims for the same damage on a vehicle.

They are also accused of filing a false claim of a two-car accident to GEICO.

Sharon Davis is accused of filing a fraudulent claim to Nationwide Insurance for a bogus hit-and-run accident.

As a result of the claims, officials said GEICO paid out approximately $4,140.74, GMAC paid out approximately $3,296.11, Liberty Mutual paid out approximately $1,074.31, and Nationwide paid out approximately $817.36, for a total payout of $9,328.52.