October 30, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. – A brother and sister each pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court to attempting to file a false insurance claim.
Janine Cunanan received a 24-month deferred sentence, was ordered to complete 10 days of community service and pay a $500 court fee and $488 in restitution to Esurance.
Jonark Cunanan received 364 days of confinement converted to 80 hours of community service, to be completed by Jan. 24, 2020, 12 months of unsupervised probation and must pay $488 in restitution to Esurance and a $500 court fee.
Officials charged the siblings after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).
According to the investigation, Jonark Cunanan added his sister Janine’s 2012 Volkswagen Jetta to his Esurance auto policy on Jan. 26, 2018, listing her as the driver. Janine filed a claim for a collision she said happened on Feb. 11. Esurance estimated the Jetta a total loss valued at $10,040. However, Bellevue Police records showed Janine caused the collision on Jan. 10 when she rear-ended another vehicle. Esurance denied the claim and referred the case to Kreidler’s investigators.
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.