RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — A Lenoir County couple was charged with eight counts of arson and fraud charges Monday. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the arrests of Monteze Rodriguez and Jalesia Nelson. Both were charged with second-degree arson, felony conspiracy, insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense. Special Agents with the Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigation Division said the couple's house burned down and they claimed they didn't know the cause of the fire. Rodriguez and Nelson received a check for $57,638.38 for the loss. The fire happened on Aug. 8, 2024, and both were arrested by the Kinston Police Department on Jan 6, 2025. Both were released from jail on $100,000 bonds.