North Carolina Insurance Investigators Thwart Alleged Auto Accident Ring

North Carolina Department of Insurance investigators arrested five Halifax County residents for their roles in what investigators are calling an auto insurance fraud ring that netted the accused more than $25,550 in insurance payments from staged accidents.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Long said the five were arrested this week and processed at the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.

Department investigators allege that the group conspired to stage an auto accident in September 2000 in which Orlando Moody rented a U-haul moving truck and crashed it into Harris’ personal vehicle. The rest of the group then reported the accident to the authorities and filed multiple claims against the U-haul rental truck’s insurance policy with Kemper Insurance Co.; these phony claims netted the participants more than $25,000 in fraudulent payments.

Long said all group members are Roanoke Rapids residents and include Creg Bowser, 32, Marquette Sykes, 33, Orlando Moody, 54, Teresa Moody, 36 and Latonya Harris, 29.

Bowser is charged with one count each obtaining property by false pretense, felony conspiracy and insurance fraud. He was arrested on Oct. 3, and placed under $ 2,000 secured bond.

Sykes is charged with one count each obtaining property by false pretense, felony conspiracy and insurance fraud. He was arrested Oct. 7 and placed under $5,000 secured bond.

Orlando Moody is charged with one count each obtaining property by false pretense, felony conspiracy and insurance fraud. He was arrested on Oct. 6 and placed under $5,000 unsecured bond.

Teresa Moody is charged with one count each obtaining property by false pretense, felony conspiracy and insurance fraud. She was arrested on Oct. 6 and placed under $5,000 unsecured bond.

Harris is charged with one count each obtaining property by false pretense, felony conspiracy and insurance fraud. She was arrested on Oct. 6 and placed under $5,000 unsecured bond.

Source: North Carolina Department of Insurance