Louisiana Police Officer Convicted in Insurance Scam

A Marksville, La., police officer who helped a woman he was dating file fraudulent insurance claims has been convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy, money laundering and concealment of assets.

Herbert Guillot Jr., who remains an active member of the police force, wore his police uniform and looked down as the guilty verdicts were read.

Jurors returned a not-guilty verdict on a charge of wire fraud.

Guillot’s sentencing is in March.

U.S. District Judge Dee Drell allowed Guillot to remain free on bail but told him he can no longer carry a gun, even as part of his job at the Marksville Police Department, because he is now a convicted felon.

Louisiana State Police troopers and FBI agents arrested Guillot in June.

Investigators said Guillot sent claims forms to State Farm Insurance Co. he knew were false on behalf of a woman he was dating.

The claims reported losses from a burglary and the insurance company paid out $10,000. The money was then placed in a bank account Guillot opened so it could not be seized when the woman filed for bankruptcy.

The woman was one of the witnesses who testified against Guillot.

Attorneys for both sides said the jury’s decision came down to whom jurors believed the most–Guillot or the woman he had been dating.

In closing arguments, Dele A. Adebamiji, Guillot’s attorney, said his client made “silly mistakes,” and wouldn’t have put the account under his own name if he had wanted to hide money from the government.

U.S. Attorney Mignonne Griffing argued that Guillot was trying to fool jurors and that he wasn’t a duped lover.

Griffing said Guillot was the only person who benefited from the insurance scam.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.