North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Sidonique Alexia Edwards, 21, of Falcon Wood Court, Winston-Salem. Edwards was charged with two counts of insurance fraud, one count of obtaining property by false pretense and one count of attempting to obtain property by false pretense, all felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Edwards of obtaining $22,994.17 from State Farm Insurance Co. by filing fraudulent receipts and appraisals of damage from a kitchen fire at a Winster Drive apartment in Winston-Salem.
According to the arrest warrant, no fire occurred at the apartment.
In addition, Edwards is accused of attempting to obtain money from Allstate Insurance Co. by filing a renters’ policy claim for water damage under a policy that she obtained after the damage occurred.
According to the arrest warrant, the damage was reported to the landlord on Aug. 18; Ms. Edwards took out the renters’ insurance policy on Aug 19 and filed the claim on Sept. 8.
The offenses occurred between Nov. 26, 2020, and Sept. 15, 2021.
Special agents and Winston-Salem police arrested Edwards on Nov. 4. She was given a $10,000 unsecured bond and is due in Forsyth County District Court on Dec. 2.
“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime; we all pay for it through higher insurance premiums,” said Commissioner Causey. “Help us keep insurance premiums low by reporting suspected fraud.”
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.