North Carolina Auto Shop Owner Charged with Multiple Frauds

A 54-year-old auto shop owner from Harrells, North Carolina, has been charged with several felonies including insurance fraud, obtaining property by false pretense, and two counts of car title application fraud. The owner, who operates a business in Wilson, was arrested by special agents from the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division. The charges are linked to an incident where the owner allegedly claimed to be the lienholder of a vehicle involved in a crash, using a stolen identity to support this claim.

The investigation, which also involved the Division of Motor Vehicles’ License and Theft Bureau and local law enforcement, revealed that forged documentation was submitted to the DMV. This arrest is part of a broader effort by North Carolina authorities to combat insurance fraud, a crime that, according to Commissioner Mike Causey, raises premiums for all citizens. The community is encouraged to report any suspicious activities to help maintain lower insurance costs.