Enrique DeAnda Morales, of Auburn, pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court on Dec. 28 to one count of filing a fraudulent insurance claim in connection with an auto collision.

The court sentenced Morales to 120 days in jail, 24 months of probation and to pay $500 in court fees. His sentence is to run concurrent with an unrelated conviction.

Prosecutors charged Morales after Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) completed an investigation.

According to the investigation, Morales rear-ended another driver on Aug. 8, 2017. On Aug. 9, he contacted his insurer, Allstate, to change the coverage on his 2011 Chevy Silverado from liability only to comprehensive coverage. On Aug. 10, he filed a claim with Allstate stating that someone had stolen the Silverado while he was was at work. Allstate 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 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.