North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Darrell Howard, 52, of 3546 Durham Lane, Charlotte, was charged with insurance fraud, a felony, and a misdemeanor charge of making a false statement on an insurance application.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Howard of listing four men’s mink coats, valued at $20,000, on a report of stolen property with State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. when the coats were not actually stolen.
The offenses occurred between Nov. 3, 2019, and July 31, 2020.
Special agents served Howard with a criminal summons on July 14. He is due in Mecklenburg County District Court on Nov. 15.
“Insurance fraud hurts consumers,” Commissioner Causey said. “Approximately 20% of your insurance premium goes to cover the cost of fraud. That’s why I’m aggressively pursuing and prosecuting insurance fraud in North Carolina.”
If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may report fraud anonymously by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.