CLAYTON, N.C. — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the arrest of Michael Gerard Renna, 50, of Clayton, on Friday. Renna faces a total of 54 felony charges, including 26 counts of insurance fraud, 18 counts of obtaining property by false pretense, and 10 counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense.
According to the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Renna allegedly defrauded 12 travel insurance companies of $955,640.65 and attempted to obtain an additional $887,571.02. He accomplished this by forging medical documents and altering identification forms, credit card statements, and airline flight information to support fraudulent insurance claims.
The alleged fraudulent activities took place over a four-year period from 2020 through 2024.
Renna was arrested on August 15 and released on a secured bond of $1 million. He is scheduled to appear in Johnston County District Court on August 18.
Commissioner Causey emphasized, “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums,” and praised the hard work of the special agents involved in the investigation.
