Guilty Plea in Theft of $1.5M Insurance Settlement in Louisiana

A Lafayette, La., man is facing a possible 20-year prison sentence for stealing about $1.5 million from an insurance settlement received by his sister.

U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley said that 37-year-old Kevin Ralph Andrus pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Prosecutors said Andrus had been the curator for his sister’s estate when an automobile accident left her incapacitated.

As she recovered, she discovered that settlement funds had been transferred to Andrus’ personal and business accounts.

Finley says the guilty plea was entered in a federal magistrate court and still must be accepted by a federal district judge. Then, a sentencing date will be set.