North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Eric Woods, 50, of 3331 Fallston-Waco Road, Cherryville. Woods was charged with insurance fraud and two counts of common law forgery, all felonies.
According to a Cleveland County grand jury, which indicted Woods on the charges, Woods forged two bills of sale, one for a Scag Turf Tiger mower and one for a John Deere Gator, and provided them to Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. in support of an insurance claim for storm damage.
Woods was arrested on April 9. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bond and is due in Cleveland County Superior Court on May 13.
Commissioner Causey encourages North Carolinians to help keep insurance premiums low by reporting suspicious fraud.
“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime,” Commissioner Causey said. “It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums.”
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.