news-record.com

The owner of Winston-Salem based Pace Airlines was arrested and charged with failing to pay group health insurance premiums, a state official announced today.

William Charles Rodgers, 59, of 608 Nashua Road in Liberty terminated his employee group health insurance without providing the required 45-day notice to his 337 employees, state Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said in a press release today.

Investigators arrested Rodgers at Piedmont Triad International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. He was taken to the Forsyth County Magistrate’s office for processing.

Additional charges are pending, according to the press release.

Investigators from the N.C. Department of Insurance’s criminal investigations division are still seeking information from Pace employees.

An informational meeting for Pace employees will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 29 at Joel Coliseum, 300 Deacon Boulevard in Winston Salem.

Employees can find more information on the insurance department’s Web site at www.ncdoi.com.