Camas woman charged in insurance fraud probe

A Camas woman was among five people charged with felonies following an insurance fraud investigation, according to a news release from the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Three others have been sentenced.

Kristina McEllrath, 41, was charged Dec. 21 in Clark County Superior Court with first-degree theft and submitting a false insurance claim for allegedly collecting more than $28,000 in disability insurance payments she wasn’t entitled to, the news release said.

According to Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s special investigations unit, McEllrath started collecting disability insurance from Tennessee-based insurance company Unum in July 2012 for an injury that prevented her from working. However, she returned to work in January 2013 and continued to collect disability insurance payments until August 2013.

She is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charges Tuesday, according to court records.

The other individuals charged with felonies following the investigation are: Vivian Reece, 50, and Jamilia Caston, 26, both of Kent, first- and second-degree theft; Alhagie Abdoulie Kanaji, 36, of Everett, filing a fraudulent insurance claim; and Michael J. Brown, 60, of Silverdale, first-degree theft in connection with fraudulent insurance policies, according to the news release.

Three others — Cynthia A. Wilcox, 45, of Gig Harbor; Jodi Borelli, 41, of Sumner; and Robin Loewen, 47, of Spokane — received sentences ranging from a diversion program to three months of jail time to community service. Each must pay restitution, the news release said.

Kreidler’s special investigations unit works with the Attorney General’s Office and local prosecutors on criminal cases. People can report suspected insurance fraud on the Insurance Commissioner’s website at http://insurance.wa.gov.