Edgecombe man faces charge of felony insurance fraud

An Edgecombe County man has been charged with felony insurance fraud, N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said Thursday in a news release.

Orlando Wonson, 51, was arrested Aug. 12 in connection with a referral from Progressive Insurance regarding suspicious activity that special agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division received in January, Causey said.

After further investigation, agents allege Wonson had filed two separate claims with two different insurance companies on the same vehicle for the same damage after purchasing the vehicle from an auction with the damage already present.

"Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet," Causey said.

About 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar goes to cover the cost of fraud, Causey said.

A secured bond for Wonson was set at $10,000, Causey said.

Wonson is due to appear Sept. 26 in Edgecombe County District Court, statewide judicial system records online said. He had listed an address in the 5400 block of N.C. 43 North, Causey said.

The N.C. Department of Insurance's website makes clear any person who deliberately makes a false statement or misrepresentation of a material fact for the purpose of obtaining or denying any benefit or payment or assisting another to obtain or deny any benefit or payment can be charged with a felony.

Those who suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes may anonymously call the N.C. Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.