A Charlotte resident has been charged with multiple instances of insurance fraud, according to an announcement by North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. Nigel Marquise Vines, 39, was apprehended and faced three felony counts based on accusations of submitting manipulated invoices for renters' insurance claims.
The charges against Vines allege that the altered invoices were involved in claims made to State Farm Insurance Co. regarding water damage to clothes. Special agents from the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division claim these claims spanned both Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties. In a detail provided by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Vines purportedly received a sum total of $32,904.45 by filing the fraudulent claims between December 16, 2020, and June 18, 2021.
The bonds set for Vines amounted to $10,500 across the two counties, with hearings scheduled for April 21 in the Mecklenburg District Court and May 12 in Gaston County District Court, respectively. Commissioner Causey took the opportunity to issue a broader warning regarding the cost of insurance fraud, stating, "Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime," and emphasizing the repercussion, "It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums." This was according to a statement obtained by the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
Citizens are being urged to report any suspicions of insurance fraud or related white-collar crimes. The call for vigilance and action is a part of an effort to curb the impact such offenses have on ordinary individuals. The North Carolina Department of Insurance offers avenues for anonymous reporting, with contact accessible via local or toll-free numbers. If you suspect insurance fraud, it can be reported 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.
