BRIEF: Wilmington man accused of insurance fraud

Oct. 21--RALEIGH -- Peter Dane Koke, 49, of 226 S. Front St., was arrested Tuesday on charges of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretenses, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Insurance.

Investigators discovered Koke was providing false information to National Guard Insurance Company Aug. 13 when he claimed his vehicle was stolen. He is accused of claiming falsely that he repaired damage to his vehicle from an accident July 3 in an attempt to receive a higher payment, the release stated.

While Koke claimed Aug. 7 in an insurance application he had no felony convictions in the past 10 years, investigators said that statement was false.

He was placed in the New Hanover County jail with bail set at $50,000.

In 2006 Koke pleaded guilty in Wake County District Court to charges that he failed to pay North Carolina income taxes of $1,070 for 1997 and $2,090 for 1998, and did not file state returns for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

In that case he was ordered to spend 18 months on supervised probation, pay $25,000 in restitution and perform 100 hours community service.

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