North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Tonia Yvett Clare Jones, 55, of 3220 Emerald Ridge Court, Raleigh. Jones was charged with 11 counts of insurance fraud, 10 counts of obtaining property by false pretense and one count of attempting to obtain property by false pretense. All charges are felonies.
According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Jones obtained $4,890 from United States Automobile Association and Homesite Insurance after providing claims of several power outages and food spoilages at two different residences, one in Wake County and one in Cumberland County.
According to arrest warrants, the electric utilities serving her residences reported no power outages during the days specified in the claims, except for one day, when the power was out for only one hour and 15 minutes.
The offenses occurred between September 2018 and December 2023.
Jones was arrested on July 17. She appeared in Cumberland County District Court on July 18 and is scheduled to appear in Wake County District Court on Aug. 12.
“Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet,” Commissioner Causey said. “Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar go 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.