Christine Marie Larsen, 30, of Tacoma pled guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to insurance fraud for purchasing insurance on her vehicle after it was totaled.
In November 2013, Larsen�s 2004 Lexus IS300 was totaled in a collision on the freeway while being driven by someone else. The next day, Larsen took out a policy on the car, which was uninsured. She filed a claim for the damages on Dec.1, 2013, stating she had been in a collision that day. The insurance company deemed the car a total loss and paid her $11,250.
The insurer, citing red flags, later investigated the claim and found a Washington State Patrol report for the Nov. 25 collision involving Larsen�s car. The driver was cited for the collision and for not having insurance. The insurer referred the case to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner�s Special Investigations Unit (SIU). SIU investigates insurance fraud and works with the Attorney General�s Office and local prosecutors to prosecute criminal cases.
Larsen was ordered to repay the insurance settlement and court costs. Read the news release about the case.