North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced the arrest of William Jeffery Barnhardt, 65, of West End, Moore County; he is charged with two counts each of insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense.
Department of Insurance criminal investigators accuse Barnhardt of receiving payment from Scottsdale Insurance Co. and the Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. by means of false pretense. Investigators allege Barnhardt presented false and altered documents related to two separate insurance claims filed in 2011 and 2012 on the same property.
Barnhardt was arrested on Aug. 31 in Richmond County and released on a $10,000 bond. Barnhardt is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 24 in Richmond County.
The Department of Insurance employs 20 sworn state law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating and prosecuting claims of insurance and bail bonding fraud. Since Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin took office in 2009, criminal investigators have made more than 1,500 arrests, resulting in more than 750 criminal convictions with more than 250 cases currently pending court. These efforts have delivered more than $72.1 million in restitution and recoveries for victims.
An estimated 10 cents of every dollar paid in premiums goes toward the payment of fraudulent claims.
Source: North Carolina Department of Insurance
Topics Carriers North Carolina
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