Massage therapist accused of stealing $54,000 in insurance payments

KIRKLAND, Wash. — A licensed massage therapist in Kirkland has been charged with first-degree theft, filing a false insurance claim, money laundering and identity theft.

The office of the Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced the charges on Friday.

Officials said Regence Blueshield discovered during an audit of Jessica Gray's claims that she filed filed 382 fraudulent claims exceeding $54,000 in payments.

"Most of the claims were submitted on behalf of 11 clients who worked for the same employer and represented 70% of her income from Regence from 2016 through 2018," officials wrote in a news release.

Gray is accused of billing for massages that were longer than the actual services and submitting charges for sessions she did not provide to policyholders.

Some of the dates Gray is accused of charging for were on major holidays, including New Year's Day, or during times when her clients were out of state, officials said.

Upon discovering the fraudulent claims, officials said Regence Blue shield referred the case to Kreidler's office, as is required by law.

Click here to report suspected insurance fraud on the insurance commissioner's website.

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