A Sylva man is currently battling legal issues after being charged with multiple counts of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense. Noah Zachary Daniel Saunier, 30, faces allegations regarding claims he made about his 2022 Audi, an automobile fetching a price tag of $161,000. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey made the announcement of Saunier's arrest, detailing the charges that could significantly impact the accused's life.
According to a report by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Saunier stands accused of reporting a fake crash involving his Audi merely hours after his mother had an insurance policy issued with GEICO Insurance Co. It's been further alleged that, in what seems to be to quickly follow a pattern, Saunier filed a similar sham claim with Progressive Corp shortly after.
The intricacies of the alleged scam paint a picture of careful planning and deceit. The arrest warrants claim that Saunier reported to Progressive a January crash of the Audi but did not formally make the claim until April 1st—curiously, the same day he alleged the incident to GEICO. It was determined that during the period Saunier claimed the accident occurred, his Audi had been stationed at Audi of Asheville, raising eyebrows and red flags among the investigating agents.
Saunier was also found to have purported a theft of his vehicle to Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., claiming he had to momentarily leave it on the side of a road due to a flat tire. He reported the car missing upon his return, only to later find it himself in Asheville, yet refusing to provide further pertinent details. After the allegations came to light, Saunier was arrested on Sept. 24 and released on a $30,000 unsecured bond. "Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime," Commissioner Causey said, pointing out the broader consequences of such deceitful acts. "It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums," he concluded, reinforcing the ripple effect that fraud can impose on the average consumer, as per the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
Commissioner Causey along with the Department of Insurance stresses the importance of community involvement in curbing these fraudulent activities. North Carolinians are encouraged to become allies in the pursuit of fairness and transparency by reporting suspicious activities. Reports can be made anonymously by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division, thus contributing to the effort to maintain reasonable insurance premiums for all. For those who wish to report suspected insurance fraud, contact details available are 919-807-6840, or toll-free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.
