North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Lakeisha Hope, 37, of 4750 Lake Valley Drive, Fayetteville. Hope was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Hope of providing false information to Sentry Insurance regarding an automobile insurance claim.
According to the arrest warrant, Hope provided the insurance company with the vehicle identification number of a vehicle which was not wrecked instead of the number for the vehicle that was wrecked but was not insured.
The offense occurred between Feb. 9 and Feb. 12.
Special agents arrested Hope on Nov. 5. She was given a $2,000 secured bond.
“It’s estimated that property and casualty insurance fraud costs insurance customers $120 billion a year in increased premiums,” said Commissioner Causey. “The Department of Insurance has reinforced its criminal investigations procedures and personnel in an effort to make more arrests to keep fraud from driving up insurance costs.”
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.