March 7, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Kim-Ramil Contreras Montaniel, 28, of Bingen, Wash., turned himself in to Klickitat County law enforcement after spending nearly seven months on Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s insurance fraud most wanted list.
Montaniel called 911 around 11 p.m. on March 3 to turn himself in. Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office took him into custody and booked him into the county jail. He reported to Klickitat County Superior Court on March 4 and was released after he agreed to appear at a hearing on March 18 to face the charge.
Montaniel failed to appear in Klickitat County Superior Court in August 2018 to face a felony charge of filing a false insurance claim. A bench warrant for his arrest was issued and bail was set for $25,000.
Montaniel was charged in July after an investigation by Kreidler’s investigators. According to the investigation, Montaniel was in a collision with his 2017 Nissan Rogue in January 2018. After the collision, he bought a Progressive auto insurance policy and filed a claim for $6,000 in damage that he said occurred after he bought the policy. However, the auto body shop estimate for the damage predated his policy start date. Progressive denied the claim and referred the case to Kreidler’s CIU.
Kreidler’s CIU investigates insurance fraud and works with the Washington State Patrol 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.