North Carolina Pastor Charged With Insurance Fraud

A pastor in North Carolina has been arrested and accused of taking about $23,000 in an insurance scam.

The Hickory Daily Record reported 47-year-old Chuck Hager was arrested and charged with 13 felonies.

The pastor of New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Stony Point says he is innocent.

Hager also worked at May’s Meats in Taylorsville.

The newspaper reports the AFLAC insurance company contacted the state Department of Insurance and said Hager had filed a fraudulent disability claim while continuing to work full-time. The company said Hager committed the fraud from December through May.

Hagar says he appreciates the support from his church, which has about 50 members.

He has a court hearing scheduled Monday.