Two more individuals have pleaded guilty to conspiring to stage automobile accidents in Louisiana in a scheme to defraud insurance and trucking companies, the U.S. Justice Department says.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana reported that James “Curtis” Williams, 66, of Gibson, Louisiana, and Ryan Wheaten, 53, of Lafayette, Louisiana, each entered a plea of guilty on June 23, 2021, to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in connection with staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers in New Orleans.
According to today’s guilty plea, on March 27, 2017, Williams conspired with co-defendants-passengers Tanya Givens, John Diggs and Lois Russell to stage an accident with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road.
Damien Labeaud and Roderick Hickman, who have pleaded guilty to staging other accidents, also participated in this accident. Hickman, while driving Russell’s car, intentionally struck the 18-wheeler and then fled the scene with Labeaud.
Russell advised NOPD that she was the driver and she, along with Williams, Givens and J. Diggs, made claims for personal injuries. In total, the victim trucking and insurance companies paid out approximately $272,500.00 for these fraudulent claims.
According to Wheaton’s guilty plea, on May 17, 2017, he and other participants — Labeaud, Mario Solomon, Henry Randle, and Dakota Diggs — participated in a staged automobile accident in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 90 East and Calliope Street in New Orleans.
Labeaud and Solomon fled the scene, and Randle falsely reported to police that he had been driving and that the tractor-trailer had struck his vehicle.
Shortly thereafter, Labeaud and Solomon went on to stage a second accident in the vicinity of Louisa Street and Chickasaw Street with Bernell Gale, Troy Smith, Marvel Francois, and another passenger. Labeaud, Solomon, Wheaten, Gale, Smith, and Francois were also charged. Labeaud, Solomon, Gale, Smith and Francois previously pleaded guilty in the case.
After the staged accident, Wheaten, Randle and D. Diggs made claims for personal injuries. The victim trucking and insurance companies paid out approximately $10,000.00 for these fraudulent claims.
With the current guilty pleas, Williams and Wheaten each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, as well as up to three years of supervised release, and/or a fine of $250,000 or. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and the Metropolitan Crime Commission assisted with the investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana
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