North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Melissa Ryan Stein, 40, and Jerome Clayton Holliday, 51, both of 7334 Heritage Lane, Randleman. Stein was charged with insurance fraud, attempting to obtain property by false pretense and felony conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, all felonies. Holliday was charged with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, a felony.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Stein of conspiring with Holliday in an attempt to obtain a claim payment from Discovery Insurance Co. by falsely telling the insurance company that her vehicle had been stolen by someone she didn’t know.
According to the arrest warrant, Holliday had taken the vehicle and wrecked it, leaving it at the scene of the accident before law enforcement arrived.
Stein was arrested on Sept. 16 and released on a written promise to appear in court. She is due in Randolph County District Court on Oct. 24. Holliday was arrested on Sept. 20 and given a $2,500 secured bond.
“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.