North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the arrest of Ashley Barnhardt, 43, of 122 Flame Azalea Court, Locust. Barnhardt is charged with 22 counts of financial identity theft, 25 counts of common law forgery and 25 counts of obtaining property by false pretense. All charges are felonies.
According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Barnhardt used her capacity as an insurance agent to retain personal identifying information of clients and their beneficiaries. She then used this information to manipulate policy applications for her own personal financial gain, collecting over $25,000 in advance commission payments from two separate life insurance companies.
The crimes date as far back as 2023.
Barnhardt was taken before judicial officials in Stanly County and given a pre-trial secured bond of $152,500. She is set to appear in Stanly County District Court on June 23.
“It’s always disturbing when an agent uses their position to benefit themselves illegally,” Commissioner Causey said. “I’m grateful to our agents for uncovering and pursuing this case. I’ve pledged to fight insurance-related crimes by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting them in North Carolina.”
SOURCE North Carolina Department of Insurance
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