North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Jonathan Bowers, 47, or 357 Gallup Road, Chapel Hill. Bowers was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Bowers of attempting to receive $2,300 from USAA Insurance by listing a ring that he had previously pawned among valuable personal property items he said was stolen while he was away on vacation.
The offenses occurred on March 17.
Following his arrest, Bowers was released on a written promise to appear in court.
“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.