JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro woman faces a Class D felony after investigators alleged she reinstated a canceled automobile insurance policy minutes after her daughter’s crash and then falsely reported that the wreck occurred later.
Shereka Leanna Ray, 37, is charged with one count of committing a fraudulent insurance act. She was arrested Thursday, July 23, by the Jonesboro Police Department.
Judge David Boling set Ray’s bail at $1,000 cash or surety at the request of Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Thomason.
An investigator with the Arkansas Insurance Fraud Investigation Division alleged Ray purchased a six-month Progressive automobile insurance policy in August 2025. She added her 17-year-old daughter and a 2011 Hyundai Sonata to the policy in February, increasing the six-month premium from $1,894 to $4,325.
The affidavit states Ray did not make a monthly payment due March 19. Progressive canceled the policy for nonpayment March 30.
Ray’s daughter was driving the Hyundai in Jonesboro on April 17 when she struck a 2017 Ford Escape, according to investigators. Jonesboro police received the accident report at 3:02 p.m., and an officer arrived at the scene at 3:05 p.m.
A phone log provided to Progressive allegedly showed Ray received a call about the crash at 3:04 p.m.
At 3:28 p.m., Ray paid $363 to Progressive to reinstate the canceled policy, the affidavit states. Less than an hour later, she electronically signed a statement asserting that the insured vehicles had not been involved in any crashes while the policy was canceled.
Ray filed a claim with Progressive at 6:09 p.m. and allegedly reported that the crash occurred at 3:45 p.m. — after she had reinstated the policy.
The affidavit states Ray’s daughter later told a Progressive claims investigator that the crash occurred around 3 p.m. She reportedly said she panicked because she was given a citation for reckless driving.
Progressive denied Ray’s claim for damage to the Hyundai because of the allegedly false no-loss statement. However, the company paid $8,400.95 for damage to the Ford Escape, according to the affidavit. The other driver may also seek compensation for an injury and lost income.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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