Battleboro man charged with insurance fraud in staged crash

RALEIGH -- Press Release Jun 2, 2021 North Carolina Department of Insurance

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Delassio McKinnon, 23, of 6772 Mill Pond Road, Battleboro. McKinnon was charged with two counts of insurance fraud, obtaining property by false pretense and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, all felonies.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse McKinnon of receiving $4,311.06 from Geico Indemnity Insurance Co. after filing a claim for damage to someone else’s vehicle that was involved in a staged crash.

McKinnon is also accused of attempting to obtain payment from a claim with State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. in a separate incident for damage to another vehicle that doesn’t belong to him, also involved in a staged crash, according to arrest warrants.

The offenses occurred between March 30, 2018, and Oct. 1, 2018.

Special agents and Edgecombe County deputies arrested McKinnon on May 21. He was given a $2,000 secured bond.

“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime; we all pay for it through higher insurance premiums,” said Commissioner Causey. “Help us keep insurance premiums low by reporting suspected fraud.”

If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, you can report it anonymously by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.