April 25, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Former insurance agent Abu Ameena Ward, of Lakewood, pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court on April 23 to one count of third-degree theft. He was ordered to pay $18,666 in restitution to Farmers Insurance and $700 in court fees.
Officials charged Ward in February 2019 after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).
According to the investigation, Ward illegally collected more than $32,904 in commissions from Farmer’s Insurance after writing 51 fake renter insurance policies from December 2013 until January 2016. Ward became licensed to sell insurance in 2012 and Kreidler revoked his license in November 2017. Farmer’s terminated Ward’s employment in June 2016 for writing the questionable policies.
Kreidler’s CIU investigates insurance fraud and works with the Washington State Patrol and state and local prosecutors on criminal cases. Insurance fraud costs the average family $400 to $700 per year in increased premiums. Insurance companies are required by law to report fraud to the commissioner.
Consumers can report suspected insurance fraud on the insurance commissioner’s website.