North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Mary Vaughan Early, 57, of 130 Peach Tree Lane, Ahoskie.
Early was charged with 23 counts of identity theft, 21 counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense, two counts of obtaining property by false pretense and 23 counts of common law forgery, all felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Early of forging the victims’ names and using their names, birthdates and Social Security numbers on life insurance applications, and using her husband’s, son’s and daughter’s names as the beneficiaries. She is also accused of receiving loans against two policies and filing a death benefit claim on another policy.
The victims were all relatives of Early.
According to the arrest warrants, Early obtained $818.66 in life insurance death benefits and $225.36 in life insurance premium loans. She attempted to obtain an additional $165,000 in benefits, according to the warrants.
The offenses occurred over a five-year period, from 2017 to 2022.
A year-long investigation by special agents led to Early’s arrest on Dec. 6, 2023. She was released on $161,000 secured bond.
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 from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.
Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.