Three Charged in North Carolina in Insurance Fraud Schemes

A North Carolina man has been charged with fraud after he allegedly won an $8,000 roofing contract by presenting a fake certificate of liability insurance.

State Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a statement that Thomas Jefferson Sappelt, 33, of Carrboro, was charged with obtaining property by false pretense, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of forgery.

Sappelt is due in court Feb. 14, Causey said.

Also this week, Causey’s office reported that two Wilmington people, roommates, were charged with insurance fraud after they filed an auto claim, but the damage proved to be pre-existing.

Richard Edward Taylor and Carrington Marie Purgason were arrested after they filed the claim with GEICO, the Insurance Department reported.