July 26, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Two people have pleaded guilty to crimes related to auto insurance claims after investigations by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).
Christopher Coralline of Forks pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court to one misdemeanor count of attempting to file a fraudulent insurance claim. He was sentenced to 24 months of unsupervised probation, 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay a $500 victim assessment fee and restitution to be determined later.
According to the investigation, Coralline’s auto insurance policy with Middlesex Insurance Co. lapsed for nonpayment in July 2016, and he renewed it on Aug. 10, 2016. He then filed a claim for an Aug. 13 collision. The insurer paid $9,579 for the other driver’s vehicle repair and medical expenses. In May 2017, the insurer found evidence that the collision occurred on Aug. 10, a few hours before Coralline renewed his auto policy and three days before he reported. Middlesex referred the case to Kreidler’s detectives.
Coralline spent 18 days on Kreidler’s insurance fraud most wanted in January 2019 when he failed to appear in court to face the charges against him.
Yandeh Nyang of Everett pleaded guilty in Snohomish County Superior Court to a misdemeanor plea of disorderly conduct. She was sentenced to 40 hours of community service, which she has completed, and to pay $250 in court fees .
According to the investigation, Nyang purchased insurance from GEICO for her 2010 Chevrolet Equinox on Oct. 11, 2017, and filed a claim two days later for more than $8,000 in damage to the vehicle from an engine fire. Records show that Nyang called 911 on Oct. 10 – the day before she purchased insurance – and firefighters responded to her Everett apartment complex to extinguish the fire. GEICO denied the claim and referred the case to Kreidler’s detectives.
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.