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RALEIGH — Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey Friday announced the arrest of Heritier Ndombasi Tungisa, 38, of 4945 Central Ave., Charlotte. Tungisa was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Tungisa of lying about his mother’s death, claiming she had died in a vehicle accident in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, when she is still alive.

The offense allegedly took place on July 20, 2021.

Mecklenburg County deputies arrested Tungisa on Aug 31. He was given a $10,000 secured bond.

Causey encourages North Carolinians to help keep insurance premiums low by reporting suspicious fraud.

“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime,” Causey said. “It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums.”

If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840.

Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.