North Carolina Couple Charged in Insurance Fraud Case

North Carolina Department of Insurance investigators arrested a Bertie County couple June 13 for alleged insurance fraud, according to Insurance Commissioner Jim Long.

Officials processed Rachelle Lunch Lee, 33, and Edward Earl Lee, 35, of Kelford, N.C. at the Bertie County jail, Long said.

Investigators charged Rachelle Lee with one count each of obtaining property by false pretense and driving while license revoked; investigators charged Edward Lee with one count of filing a false police report.

Department officials allege that early in the morning of Jan. 14, Rachelle Lee was in a single-vehicle accident with a deer, driving a vehicle that was not insured. She called that same day to obtain an insurance policy from Geico that would go into effect on Jan. 15, but did not mention the wreck. Then on Jan. 17, she called to file a claim, stating that the wreck occurred that day. Her husband Edward filed a police report saying he was driving the car. Geico paid a claim of just under $2,000, investigators reported.

Rachelle Lee received a $10,000 unsecured bond and her husband was placed under a $500 unsecured bond. The Bertie County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the arrest.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted in the case.

Source: North Carolina Department of Insurance