Sanford man, Fayetteville woman charged with insurance fraud

Jan. 07--SANFORD -- A Sanford man and a Fayetteville woman have been charged with insurance fraud, the N.C. Department of Insurance reported Wednesday.

Brian T. Bright, of Alfred Alston Road, Sanford, and Althea M. Smith, of the 2400 block of Strickland Bridge Road, Fayetteville, are accused of lying to Sentry Insurance Company about a wreck on Jan. 16, 2015, in an effort to get more money out of an insurance claim.

According to the N.C. Highway Patrol report, Smith and Bright's vehicle struck another vehicle crossing a railroad track on Colon Road.

Smith was listed as the owner of the vehicle, and Bright was listed as a passenger. The driver of Smith's vehicle was Andre Carl Dunn, according to the Highway Patrol.

The Highway Patrol reported that Smith, Bright and others involved in the wreck declined treatment at the scene, but all were transported to Central Carolina Hospital by the driver of the struck vehicle, Jeramy Ozell Massenburg of the 1700 block of Farrell Road, Sanford.

Bright was taken into custody in Lee County on Dec. 22, and Smith was taken into custody in Cumberland County on Dec. 23.

Both received a $50,000 bond, and neither Bright nor Smith remain in custody, according to the Lee County and Cumberland County sheriff's offices.

According to an arrest warrant, Smith "did attempt to knowingly and designedly, with the intent to cheat and defraud, obtain monetary compensation from [Sentry Insurance] by means of a false pretense which was calculated to deceive and did deceive."

The false pretenses, according to the warrant, was making false statements concerning a motor vehicle accident in an attempt to elevate the claim.

No further information was immediately available.

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