A Johnston County resident found herself in legal hot water after allegedly playing the system to score insurance money for events she claimed work made her miss. Charnay Hayden Padilla, 26, of Clayton, faces charges including insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, the North Carolina Department of Insurance announced yesterday. The accusations stem from Padilla's dealings with Jefferson Insurance, where she reportedly snagged nearly $3,000 in false claims related to event cancellations.
According to the NCDOI official press release, Padilla misrepresented her availability to attend various events including Flo, Sesame Street Live, and a Chris Brown concert, claiming her job required her presence elsewhere. She successfully obtained $2,876.29, and allegedly attempted to bag an extra $1,065.31, all the while saying she was tied up with work obligations, during the period between December 14, 2024, and July 1, 2025.
After her arrest on November 9, Padilla was slapped with a $40,000 secured bond and hustled off for a November 10 court appearance in Johnston County District Court. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey weighed in on the matter, sternly reminding North Carolinians of the impact of insurance fraud. "Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime," Commissioner Causey said. "It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums," as mentioned on the NCDOI website. His comments paint a clear picture — false claims don't just affect the fraudster and the immediate victim, but ripple outwards to affect the financial well-being of unsuspecting policyholders across the board.
The Department of Insurance is not taking the situation lightly, inviting anybody with intel on possible insurance fraud, or related white-collar crimes, to come forward. Anonymity is guaranteed to those who need it, whether they dial the Criminal Investigations Division directly or take advantage of the toll-free hotline.
