The North Carolina Department of Insurance and North Carolina Farm Bureau recently worked together on a sting operation in Wake County, which led to the arrest of a roofing worker, according to Insurance Journal. The agencies set up a “bait house” then asked roofing companies to take a look at the roof and recorded roofing workers’ actions.
Investigators allegedly observed Robert Allen Bentley and a co-worker damaging and bending roof shingles at the bait house. The goal was then to claim the damage was caused by wind and hail and attempt to get $30,000 in an insurance claim with the North Carolina Farm Bureau. According to WRAL, the president of A&M Premier Roofing and Construction, Raleigh, N.C., said the company had used Bentley as a subcontractor but he was not working for A&M Premier Roofing and Construction when the incident happened.
On Dec. 10, authorities charged Bentley with insurance fraud.
North Carolina Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding said such fraud leads to higher premiums for homeowners.
“That’s why we partnered with Commissioner Causey and the Department of Insurance in this successful sting operation,” Harding said in a news release. “We’re pleased that the individuals charged are being held accountable, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioner and the Department to prevent and deter fraud in the roofing industry.”
