Nampa Man Pleads Guilty to Insurance Fraud
Wednesday September 1, 2021BOISE, ID (September 1, 2021) – Christopher Katsikaris of Nampa was sentenced to two years of supervised probation and a $500 fine yesterday after being convicted of one count of insurance fraud. Katsikaris plead guilty to the offense on June 21, 2021 after it was determined that damage he listed on a vehicle theft claim was present before the reported disappearance.
On April 16, 2018, Katsikaris filed a police report with the Nampa Police Department alleging that his vehicle had been stolen and submitted a claim for vehicle theft to his insurance company. When asked by the company whether the vehicle had any damage present prior to the theft, Katsikaris stated there were only minor dings. Five days later, the Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle. The car had been partially stripped and was badly damaged.
While investigating the claim, Katsikaris’ insurance company received photographs of his vehicle that were taken by his dealership on April 9, 2018, just a week before Katsikaris submitted a vehicle theft claim. The pictures showed that much of the damage on the car was present before it was reported as stolen, and that items which Katsikaris had claimed were missing from the recovered vehicle, such as a roof rack, were not present. His claim was then denied.
When questioned by investigators at the Department of Insurance (DOI), Katsikaris admitted that he knowingly failed to inform his insurance company about the damage that was present on his vehicle before the reported theft, and that he had hoped that making the claim would lead his insurance company to pay to fix the damage.
“Giving false information on a claim to get a higher payout is fraud, which raises the cost of insurance for all Idahoans,” said Dean Cameron, Director of the DOI. “The DOI will always diligently investigate acts of fraud to help protect all consumers.”
In addition to probation and a fine, the court also imposed 150 days of suspended discretionary jail time which Katsikaris’ probation officer may utilize as deemed necessary. In addition, Katsikaris must pay $514.97 in restitution to the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) and $2,528.22 to his insurance company.
To learn more about insurance fraud or to file a report, visit www.doi.idaho.gov or call (208) 334-4250.
About the Department of Insurance
The Idaho Department of Insurance has been regulating the business of insurance in Idaho since 1901. The mission of the Department is to serve and protect Idahoans by equitably, effectively and efficiently administering the Idaho Insurance Code and the International Fire Code. For more information, please visit us at doi.idaho.gov.
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