Editor’s Note: Neither the suspect in this investigation nor his business are affiliated with Statesville Collision Center, which is located at 114 Victory Lane in Statesville.

Special to IFN

RALEIGH — The owner of a collision repair shop in Statesville has been arrested and charged with a felony following an investigation by N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division.

N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the arrest of Timothy Scott Gilbert, 60, of 2242 Shelton Avenue, Statesville, in a news release.

Gilbert was charged with obtaining property by false pretense, a felony.

According to NCDOI special agents, Gilbert obtained an insurance payment check from a customer in the amount of $7,514.23 to repair a damaged vehicle and did not perform the repairs outlined. He later paid back $266.48 of the funds received, according to the news release.

According to the arrest warrants, the offense occurred on December 11, 2023.

Gilbert was arrested on Monday, January 27, and released on a $2,500 unsecured bond. 

“Insurance-related crimes hit consumers in the wallet,” Commissioner Causey said. “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 and other related crimes in North Carolina.”

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 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.