Triangle cousins charged with insurance fraud

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrests of Allen Ray Gowans and Natasha Die't Jones as result of the same investigation. Jones, 37, of 5200 Summit Manor Lane Raleigh, was charged with insurance fraud and aiding and abetting another to obtain property by false pretense.

Gowans, 36, of 2914 Moorgate Ave., Durham, was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense.

All of the charges are felonies.

According to special agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division, Jones filed an insurance claim with Nationwide for a personal injury resulting from a vehicle crash on Jan. 27.

At the time of the claim, Jones stated that her cousin, Jones, was in her parked vehicle when it was struck, and that they both sustained injuries. Further investigation by agents revealed that the person Jones claimed was in her vehicle was actually in another city at the time of the crash. Gowans filed a similar claim for the same accident, even though he was not on the scene at the time, agents said.

Jones was arrested on July 27, and appeared in Wake County District Court on July 29 following a release under a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Gowans was arrested on July 30 by Wake County Sheriff's officers. He was released under a $15,000 secured bond and ordered to appear in Wake County District Court on Aug. 19.

"Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet," Commissioner Causey said. "Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar goes to covering the cost of fraud. I'm fighting this by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting insurance fraud in North Carolina. Many thanks to our agents and other agencies for unravelling this complex case."

If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.

Related Topics:

• NCDOI

  NC Department of Insurance Press Release

• Investigations

  Investigations Press Release