January 8, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Kathy Oberst of Spokane and Christopher Coralline of Forks have been added to Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s insurance fraud most wanted after failing to appear in court to face separate auto insurance fraud charges.
If you have information that may lead to an arrest, please contact your local law enforcement agency or contact Kreidler's Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).
Kathy Oberst of Spokane was changed in Spokane County Superior Court with attempted first-degree theft, filing a false insurance claim and making a false claim with a public servant. A warrant was issued for Oberst’s arrest and bail was set at $15,000.
According to Kreidler’s investigation, Oberst purchased a Progressive insurance policy for her Honda Civic on Dec. 29, 2015. On Jan. 7, 2016, she reported the car stolen from her driveway. That night, Spokane police found the car several miles away with extensive damage to the front of the car, estimated to be a loss of $8,800. Oberst told investigators the car was not damaged before she reported it stolen. However, police records show the car was in a collision on Dec. 17, 2015. Progressive denied the claim in June 2016 and referred the case to Kreidler’s CIU.
Christopher Coralline of Forks was charged in King County Superior Court with one count of filing a false insurance claim, a felony. A warrant was issued for Coralline’s arrest and bail was set at $5,050.
According to Kreidler’s 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 a collision that he reported happened on Aug. 13. 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. Middlesex closed the claim and referred the case to Kreidler’s CIU.
Kreidler’s CIU investigates insurance fraud and works with 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.