Apex woman charged with insurance fraud

An Apex woman who owns an insurance company was arrested today by Department of Insurance investigators and charged with insurance fraud.

Mary Grantham Hicks, also known as Mary Linda Hicks, 58, of 7608 Blaney Franks Road was charged with one count of embezzlement and one count of obtaining property by false pretenses. Hicks is the owner of Swift Creek Insurance and Realty at 7985 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh.

Hicks was a licensed insurance agent providing workers compensation coverage for local commercial construction contractors and subcontractors. The Insurance Separtment alleges that in at least one case, Hicks took payment from a client but failed to remit that payment to the insurance company. Instead, she falsified a certificate of insurance and presented that as proof of coverage.

An employee with the client company later suffered an accident in which another victim made a claim against the workers comp policy. It was at this point the client company realized the insurance was fraudulent, and the Department of Insurance was notified.

Based on this allegation, Hicks surrendered her license a year ago; however, she continued to own an agency and employ at least one other licensed agent.

Further charges may be pending.

Clients of Swift Creek Insurance and Realty are urged to review their insurance policies and call the insurance companies listed to confirm their coverage. Investigators fear that clients may believe they have coverage but in reality do not.

Clients with questions or who need help obtaining phone numbers for the insurance carriers should call (800) 546-5664.

Information is also available at the Department of Insurance web site.