A Cherryville resident is facing serious allegations of insurance fraud and forgery, as was recently reported by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Eric Woods, a 50-year-old from Cherryville, was arrested and charged by the state's insurance commissioner, Mike Causey, for fabricating documents to support a phony insurance claim. The North Carolina Department of Insurance detailed in their press release that Woods is accused of forging bills of sale for a Scag Turf Tiger mower and a John Deere Gator to claim storm damage compensation from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
Woods's ploy was uncovered and led to the Cleveland County grand jury indicting him on these charges. Post his arrest on Wednesday last week, he was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Woods is now to due to make his appearance at the Cleveland County Superior Court on May 13. This case is not an isolated event but part of a larger issue that, according to Commissioner Causey, affects all policyholders. "Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums," Causey said in the release.
Citizens are encouraged to proactively report any suspicions of insurance fraud to aid in this effort. Commissioner Causey's office has provided contact details, including a phone number for the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division, for the public to report any instances of such white-collar crime.
