North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Nigel Marquise Vines, 39, of 1239 Kelston Place, Charlotte. Vines was charged with three counts of insurance fraud, all felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Vines of submitting altered invoices on three renters’ insurance claims with State Farm Insurance Co., two in Mecklenburg County and one in Gaston County. Special agents say the claims involved water damage to clothes.
According to arrest warrants, Vines received $32,904.45 as a result of submitting the claims.
The offenses occurred between Dec. 16, 2020, and June 18, 2021.
Vines was given a $7,000 secured bond on the two Mecklenburg County charges and was due in Mecklenburg District Court on April 21. He was given a $3,500 secured bond on the Gaston County charge and is due in Gaston County District Court on May 12.
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.