January 3, 2020
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Charles and Genia Boyles are serving time in jail after pleading guilty to committing life insurance fraud involving the death of their 12-year-old son after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).
Charles Boyles pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court to first-degree perjury, conspiracy to commit theft--both felonies--and a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to commit a fraudulent insurance claim. He was ordered to pay $1,217 in court fees and to report to Island County Jail on Dec. 27, where he will serve 13 months.
Genia Boyles pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court to conspiracy to a commit fraudulent insurance claim, a misdemeanor. She was ordered to pay $1,117 in court fees and to report to Island County jail on Jan. 2, where she will serve 60 days.
Genia, the boy’s stepmother, and Charles took out a $15,000 Gerber life insurance policy on the boy in June 2016, the day they learned that he had been diagnosed with cancer. They indicated on the application that he had no health conditions. The policy initially listed Charles as the beneficiary and the couple later changed the beneficiary to Genia.
When they filed a claim after the boy’s death in April 2017, Gerber asked for medical records and found the cancer diagnosis. The company denied the claim and canceled the policy, refunding the $146 in premiums the Boyles had paid.
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.