A Wadesboro man was arrested this month on allegations of committing insurance fraud.

Walter Vernel Lisenby, 50, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, according to warrants for his arrest.

Lisenby was arrested April 4, but allegedly committed the offenses from Nov. 13, 2015 through Jan. 7.

Lisenby allegedly tried to defraud Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company by giving both a “written and oral statement” that had false information for “damage to the front bumper of his vehicle, including a fraudulent estimate.”

He was arrested by the N.C. Department of Insurance and booked into the Anson County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond. He posted bond the day of his arrest and is scheduled to appear in court April 26.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Lisenby has a criminal record in North Carolina dating back to 1996, when he was convicted of failing to return rented property in Union County and obtaining property by writing worthless checks in Anson County, according to the N.C. Division of Adult Correction.

Lisenby has multiple convictions of obtaining property by false representation of a physical disability, cheating property or services, forgery and more, records show.

“The Department of Insurance employs 20 sworn state law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating and prosecuting claims of insurance and bail bonding fraud,” the department said in a news release. “Since Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin took office in 2009, criminal investigators have made more than 1,500 arrests, resulting in more than 750 criminal convictions with more than 250 cases currently pending court. These efforts have delivered more than $72.1 million in restitution and recoveries for victims. An estimated 10 cents of every dollar paid in premiums goes toward the payment of fraudulent claims.”

Contact the Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 to report possible fraud. Callers may be anonymous.

For more information on insurance fraud, visit www.ncdoi.com.

Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.

Lisenby
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Walter-Vernell-Lisenby-fz.jpgLisenby

By Imari Scarbrough

iscarbrough@civitasmedia.com