North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the arrest of Christy Shemika Joyce, 47, of 1571 Lovett St., Greensboro, NC. Joyce was charged with one count of insurance fraud and one count of obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.
Special agents with the North Carolina Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division began investigating a renter’s insurance claim for damages resulting from an alleged kitchen fire which occurred on March 10, 2020. Joyce received payment after providing documentation to State Farm Insurance in the amount of $19,448.31.
A subsequent investigation concluded that no fire had occurred, and that Joyce had produced both fraudulent photos and documentation. This incident is part of an alleged multi-person fraud ring which is still under investigation by CID agents.
Greensboro police arrested Joyce on Nov. 10, and she was released under a written promise to appear in a Guilford County Court on Jan. 10, 2024.
“Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet,” Commissioner Causey said. “Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar goes toward 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 or toll free at 855-408-1212.
Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.