City man charged with 8 felonies in insurance fraud case

A Mount Airy man and former insurance agent was arrested earlier this week and charged with eight felonies, all related alleged fraudulent actions he took more than 14 months ago.

Matthew Swift, 42, of 402 Ladonia Church Road, Mount Airy, was arrested on Tuesday by the Surry County Sheriff's Office, charged with two counts of insurance fraud, two counts of common law forgery, two counts of identity theft and two counts of common law uttering, all felonies.

According to the department, special agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division investigating the case found that Swift allegedly twice submitted claims against a life insurance policy he had fraudulently applied for in another individual's name with Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. Swift is a former insurance agent with N.C. Farm Bureau.

According to the arrest warrant, the offenses occurred on Dec. 1, 2023.

Swift was released from custody on a $75,000 secured bond. He is set to appear in Surry County District Court on Feb. 19.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey encouraged North Carolinians to help keep insurance premiums low by reporting suspicious activity.

"Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime," Causey said. "It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums."

Anyone who suspects insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes can anonymously report those suspicions by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.

Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.