North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest Clayton Elof Peterson, 44, of 1006 Gateway Ave., Wilkesboro. Peterson was charged with one count of insurance fraud and two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, all felonies.
Special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Peterson of falsifying a medical claim form, including the physician’s information and submitting it to American Health and Life Insurance Company.
As a result of the fraudulent claim, Peterson received a payment of $433.72 for medical reimbursement. Furthermore, he used the same fraudulent medical diagnosis to account for lost wages, allowing him to receive a total of $3,960 in Section 8 rental assistance from the Northwestern Regional Housing Authority.
According to the arrest warrant, the original offense occurred Feb. 1, 2023. The rental assistance covered over six months, from Aug. 15, 2023 through Feb. 15, 2024.
Peterson was released by Wilkes County officials on under a $15,000 unsecured bond and ordered to appear in district court on Mar. 27.
“Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet,” Commissioner Causey said. “Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar goes to 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 from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.
Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.