Wake school librarian charged with insurance fraud

Sabrina Michelle Smith, 37, of 5300 Talison Court in Raleigh, was arrested last Thursday on charges of obtaining property by false pretense and felony conspiracy. She was released after posting a $30,000 bond.

An arrest warrant states that Smith conspired with an employee of Nationwide Insurance to obtain unauthorized settlement checks totaling $14,260 between June 2010 and last December.

Wake County Public School System spokeswoman Renee McCoy said Smith has been suspended with pay pending an internal review of the matter. Smith previously worked as a teacher at Wakelon Elementary School and Hodge Road Elementary School before becoming the media coordinator at Leesville Road Elementary in August, McCoy said.

Three Raleigh men also were charged in the scheme, according to the state Department of Insurance.

Anthony Quentin Barlow, 40, of 7373 Sandy Creek Drive, was charged with embezzlement and conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense. Tony Maurice Pittman, 40, of 8037 Bright Oak Trail, and Rodney Smith, 39, of 5300 Talison Court, were each charged with obtaining property by false pretense and conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense.