Washington Sheriff’s Deputy Charged With Insurance Fraud

Jeremy B. Jeske, 43, a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy, has been charged with two counts of insurance fraud in connection with a case that was investigated by Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Special Investigations Unit.

According to the investigators, Jeske owned a travel trailer and a metal carport that were stored on a property in Idaho. He purchased an insurance policy from State Farm for the travel trailer in March. In April, he filed a claim with State Farm for damage to the trailer that he said was caused by the carport collapsing on it due to wind and snow. The damage was estimated to be $14,166.

Jeske submitted photos to State Farm showing the damage to the trailer and the carport collapsed on top of it. State Farm determined the photos were taken three days before Jeske purchased the trailer policy, and a full month before the date Jeske reported the damage as having occurred.

The investigation showed Jeske filed a separate claim in April to Safeco Insurance for the collapsed carport. Safeco insured Jeske’s property in Davenport, Wash., which is where he reported the carport was located. He cited strong winds as the cause of the carport’s collapse and sent photos to Safeco to show the damage. Safeco paid Jeske $3,301 for the cost to remove the old carport and for the $1,800 he said he originally paid for the carport.

Later, Safeco found out from State Farm that the carport was located at the property in Idaho, which was not insured by Safeco.

According to the charges, Jeske filed claims total $17,467 from both companies. He later tried to reverse the Safeco claim for the carport, telling the company that he was seeking reimbursement from the carport manufacturer instead.

Jeske is on paid administrative leave from his law enforcement job. His arraignment date has not yet been set.