Georgia minister, son arrested on insurance fraud charges
Nearly $150k was allegedly issued in fraudulent checks.
COFFEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — A mother and her son are facing insurance fraud charges following a months-long investigation, according to state investigators with the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire.
Authorities said Greta Patterson, 62, and her son, Horace Kelly, 40, were involved in a fraudulent insurance claims scheme that took place between Feb. 19, 2022, and Aug. 10, 2022.
Investigators allege that Kelly, who worked in the insurance industry as a total loss representative, issued 126 fraudulent insurance checks during that seven-month period, totaling $146,166.96. Officials said 123 of those checks were cashed or deposited, resulting in a fraudulent loss of $141,416.96.
According to investigators, Patterson received and cashed or deposited 10 of those checks, totaling $3,809, into her personal account.
Patterson was arrested on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office after a warrant was issued by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 22. Kelly was arrested at his home on Oct. 23, 2025, by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. He faces seven counts of insurance fraud.
Both Patterson and Kelly are currently out on property bonds.
WALB News 10 reached out to the insurance company involved to learn how the investigation began and what safeguards are in place to detect fraud. That response is pending.
This story is from WALB, Atlanta News First’s sister station.
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