RALEIGH — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Jeffery Scott Fletcher, 55, of 7618 Highway 258 South, Pinetops. Fletcher 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 Fletcher of falsely telling Travelers Insurance Co. that he did not remember the details of a fire that totaled his 2004 Chevrolet truck on Sept. 8, 2020, in an attempt to collect on an automobile insurance claim.
According to the arrest warrant, Fletcher had previously admitted to an Edgecombe County Sheriff’s investigator that he started the fire that burned his truck.
Edgecombe County deputies arrested Fletcher on May 7. He was released under a $1,000 secured bond.
“Insurance fraud is a crime affecting everyone,” Commissioner Causey said. “Approximately 20% of insurance premium costs go to pay for insurance fraud.”
Since 2017, Commissioner Causey has more than doubled the number of special agents investigating fraud and white-collar crimes. As a result, special agents from 2017 through 2020 have made 1,612 arrests.
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.