OLYMPIA, Wash. – Felony charges were filed against five people after insurance fraud investigations by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

Juelene Perez Owens (Perez), 37, of Mossyrock, was charged with first-degree theft in Lewis County Superior Court. According to the investigation, Perez enrolled her boyfriend, Jose P. Lopez, on the health insurance provided through her employer, the U.S. Postal Service, when she was hired in 2004. She indicated on the enrollment form that she and Lopez were married, even though they’ve never been married.

In 2011, Lopez submitted an updated enrollment form, again listing Lopez as her husband. In June 2014, USPS requested a marriage certificate from Perez; she said she didn’t have one because she thought they were married under common law. The health insurance plan paid more than $350,000 in medical and prescription claims for Lopez. The U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Office of Personnel Management Offices of Inspector General referred and assisted Kreidler’s SIU with this investigation.