North Carolina Man Arrested on Fraud Charges

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long announced the arrest of Jose Luis Salas-Perez, 31, of Winterville.

An investigator with the Department of Insurance arrested him and charged him with four counts each of insurance fraud, identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense. He was processed at the Pitt County Detention Center under a $30,000 bond.

Salas-Perez, who has previously been charged with identity theft and providing false information to the DMV, is accused of using a false identity to purchase automobile insurance.

Investigators allege that in 1999, Salas-Perez obtained a driver's license under the name Ronald Cruz Ortiga. Between 2002 and 2007, he allegedly used that name to insure the four vehicles he owned.

Salas-Perez was originally arrested for the identity theft charges a year ago; later, prosecutors notified Department of Insurance officials of the possibility of insurance fraud in the case.