North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Lydia Sabrina Smith, 56, of 2025 Ricks Chapman Drive, Charlotte. Smith was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
According to special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Smith submitted a false invoice for repairs to a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox to Nationwide Insurance Co. for an automobile insurance claim.
The offense occurred on July 5, 2023.
Smith was arrested on Feb. 6 and released under a $5,000 unsecured bond.
“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.