North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Tina Marie Hiatt, 33, of 746 Fuller Mill Road North, Trinity. Hiatt was charged with two counts of forgery. She was also charged with obtaining property by false pretense, attempting to obtain property by false pretense, uttering (passing) a forged check and attempted uttering. All six charges are felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Hiatt of altering a $715.89 check from Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America and depositing it in her bank account.
According to the arrest warrant, Hiatt also altered a $3,400 check from First Health Moore Regional Hospital and attempted to deposit it in her checking account.
The offenses occurred between April 12, 2021, and June 18, 2021.
Special agents arrested Hiatt on Feb. 23. She was given a $25,000 secured bond. Hiatt is due in Moore County District Court on March 17.
“Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet,” Commissioner Causey said. “Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar go to covering the cost of fraud. I’m fighting this by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting insurance fraud in North Carolina.”
If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.