For Immediate Release:	Contact:
Nov. 26, 2008	Kristin Milam
	(919) 733-5238
Mt. Airy Resident Arrested on Charges of Insurance Fraud
RALEIGH -- - Insurance Commissioner Jim Long today announced the arrest of Jerry Leslie Flippen, Jr., 32, of Mt. Airy. Department of Insurance investigators arrested him Tuesday and charged him with one count of insurance fraud and one count of obtaining property by false pretense. Flippen was processed at the Surry County Sheriff's Office and released under a written promise to appear.
Department investigators allege:
In May, Flippen claimed his home had been broken into and filed an insurance claim with Farmer's Insurance Group. During the claims process, Farmer's contacted Department investigators who determined that some of the stolen property was actually in another location and should not have been included in the original insurance claim. He is scheduled to appear in Surry County District Court on Dec. 5.
The Department of Insurance employs 20 sworn law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating claims of insurance fraud. In 2007, these investigators saw more than 525 cases successfully closed with more than $14.5 million in restitution and recoveries, 53 criminal convictions and 109 arrests.
To report suspected fraud, contact the Department of Insurance Investigations Division at (919) 807-6840. Callers may remain anonymous. Information is also available at the NC-DOI Web site.
-- NCDOI --