N.C. Insurance Dept.: Martin County Man Charged With Insurance Fraud

RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 14 -- The North Carolina Department of Insurance issued the following news release on July 13, 2022:

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of James Alton Hoggard Jr., 22, of 1125 Mulberry St., Hassell. Hoggard was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies, along with a misdemeanor charge of making a false report to police.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division accuse Hoggard of filing a false automobile insurance claim with National General Insurance Co. by saying that his 2008 Buick Lacrosse was stolen from his residence when, instead, the car was involved in an accident while there was a lapse in insurance coverage.

According to arrest warrants, Hoggard also falsely reported to the Martin County Sheriff's office that his car had been stolen.

The offenses occurred between Nov. 27, 2021, and June 9, 2022.

Hoggard was arrested on July 6. He was given a $3,500 unsecured bond.

"Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet," Commissioner Causey said. "Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar go to covering the cost of fraud. I'm fighting this by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting insurance fraud in North Carolina."

If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840.

Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.

* * *

Original text here: https://www.ncdoi.gov/news/press-releases/2022/07/13/martin-county-man-charged-insurance-fraud