North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Markel Ray Hyshaw, 28, 3520 Drawbridge Parkway, Greensboro. Hyshaw was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigation Division accuse Hyshaw of falsely claiming to USAA Insurance that his food spoiled because his refrigerator was replaced by his apartment maintenance staff.
According to the arrest warrant, the apartment staff said Hyshaw never notified its maintenance staff of issues with his refrigerator, nor did the staff replace or make repairs to his refrigerator.
The offenses occurred between March 30 and April 13.
Hyshaw is scheduled to appear in Guildford County District Court on July 26.
“Property and casualty insurance fraud costs insurance customers an estimated $120 billion a year in increased premiums,” said Commissioner Causey. “The Department of Insurance has beefed up its fraud-fighting staff 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 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.