An Alamance County father and his two sons are facing a litany of charges tied to what authorities are describing as a fraudulent insurance scheme. In an announcement made by North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, Steven Herbert Andrews, along with William Grant Andrews Sr. and William Grant Andrews Jr., have collectively been slammed with 48 felony charges. The trio, involved in home repair and real estate management businesses, are accused of manipulating claims to siphon funds through inflated damage reports and fictitious claims of loss.
Digging deeper into the case, the charges against the patriarch, William Andrews Sr., age 65, of Elon, include three counts of insurance fraud, two counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense, and one count of common law uttering. These findings seem to echo a history of scheming, though none so elaborate as the current allegations. The Andrews family has managed to intricately weave a tapestry of deceit, if the charges hold true, aiming to defraud an insurance underwriting association in North Carolina.
A more detailed breakdown of the charges, as reported by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, reveals Steven Andrews, 36, is charged with the bulk of the offenses, which include 16 counts of insurance fraud, 10 counts of forgery, and various counts pertaining to property and perjury. William Andrews Jr., 39, faces a lighter but still significant set of charges, including insurance fraud and forgery. The investigation uncovered suspected fraudulent activities that occurred between November 2021 and September 2023.
All three men voluntarily surrendered to authorities on June 17 and were released on written promises to appear in court, which they did the following day. Commissioner Causey didn't mince his words when condemning the alleged actions, stating, “Insurance fraud is a serious crime. 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.” His statement, aimed directly to remind the public of the consequences of such fraud, showcases the Department's commitment to thoroughly challenge such deceptive practices.
In total, family members operate multiple businesses, a position they're accused of exploiting to deceitfully bolster their earnings. Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division laid out the case against the Andrews after examining the submissions made to the N.C. Joint Underwriting Association, also known as the FAIR Plan, which were found to contain exaggerated claims and reports of non-existent damages.
