North Carolina woman facing 22 felony charges in connection with insurance fraud scheme

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A Raleigh woman was arrested last Wednesday in connection with an insurance fraud scheme that spanned over five years.

Tonia Yvett Clare Jones, 55, is charged with 11 counts of insurance fraud, 10 counts of obtaining property by false pretense, and one count of attempting to obtain property by false pretense. All charges are felonies, according to the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

According to state officials, Jones obtained $4,890 from the United States Automobile Association and Homesite Insurance after providing claims of several power outages and food spoilages at two different residences. One residence was in Wake County and one was in Cumberland County.

The electric utilities serving the two residences did not report power outages during the days specified in the claims, with the exception of one day when the power was out for one hour and 15 minutes, according to state officials.

State officials say the offenses occurred between September 2008 and December 2023.

“Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet,” North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a statement. “Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar go to covering the cost of fraud. I’m fighting this by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting insurance fraud in North Carolina.”

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