North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Darren Lewis Wolfe, 54, of 11223 Gold Pan Road, Charlotte, was charged with obtaining property by false pretense and three counts of common law uttering (passing forged documents), all felonies.
Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Wolfe of providing fraudulent certificates of liability insurance to obtain $20,125 for his business, Allwood Tree Service.
The offenses occurred between June 1, 2017, and July 11, 2019.
Special Agents served Wolfe with criminal summonses on Dec. 7.
Commissioner Causey estimates fraud costs North Carolinians between 15 and 20 cents on every dollar paid on insurance premiums, maybe more. That’s why he has cracked down on this white-collar crime by boosting the NCDOI Criminal Investigations Division.
Over the past two years, CID Special Agents recovered $7.5 million in criminal activities-- money that was returned to consumers and insurance companies. The restitution also helps preserve insurance rates.
To report suspected fraud, contact the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840. Callers may remain anonymous. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.