Early-morning raid results in six arrests in connection with the largest insurance fraud ring in North Carolina history.
Raleigh, NC — The state’s department of insurance has cracked the largest insurance fraud case in North Carolina history.
Authorities have arrested six family members from Chatham and Randolph counties.
The six are suspected of masterminding an extensive auto insurance fraud ring with possible ties to the illegal drug trade.
The group has allegedly been staging accidents and filing for claims for more than 10 years, collecting as much as two million dollars.
Investigators suspect that as many as 480 auto crash claims were deliberately caused so the defendants could collect insurance payments.
Those charged are Frankie Alston of Siler City, Gloria Alston of Siler City, Ellen Burns or Sophia, Reynaldo Dimas Colores of Siler City, Dorothy Maria Depaz of Siler City and Jose Anton Depaz of Siler City.
The charges include obtaining property by false pretenses, habitual felon and conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses.
Department investigators allege the fraud ring may have been part of a larger illegal drug operation and they expect Tuesday’s arrests to be the first in an ongoing investigation.