U.S. Attorneys with the Department of Justice announce five more people plead guilty to conspiring to stage automobile accidents with 18-wheelers in New Orleans in order to defraud insurance companies.
According to U.S. Attorney Duane Evans, on March 27, 2017, Russell Givens, and J. Diggs conspired with passenger James Curtis Williams to stage an accident with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road.
Damien Labeaud and Roderick Hickman, who the DOJ says have already pleaded guilty to staging other accidents, also participated in this accident.
They say, Hickman, while driving Russell’s car, intentionally struck the 18-wheeler and then fled the scene with Labeaud. Russell tells New Orleans Police officers that she was the driver and she, along with Givens and J. Diggs, made claims for personal injuries. In total, the trucking and insurance companies paid out $272,500.00 in fraudulent claims according to the DOJ.
The DOJ also says today’s guilty plea includes staged accidents on May 17, 2017. They say, Randle and D. Diggs, along with Labeaud, Mario Solomon, and Ryan Wheaten, staged an automobile accident near US 90 East and Calliope Street in New Orleans.
Labeaud and Solomon fled the scene while Randle falsely reported to the NOPD that he had been driving and that the tractor-trailer had struck his vehicle.
A short time later, Labeaud and Solomon went on to stage a second accident near Louisa Street and Chickasaw Street with Bernell Gale, Troy Smith, Marvel Francois, and another passenger.
Randle, D. Diggs, and Wheaten made claims for personal injuries. The trucking and insurance companies paid out approximately $10,000.00 for these fraudulent claims according to the DOJ.
Labeaud, Solomon, Wheaten, Gale, Smith, and Francois were also charged. Labeaud, Solomon, Gale, Smith, and Francois already pled guilty.
Russell, Givens, Randle, J. Diggs, and D. Diggs face a maximum sentence of five years. Upon release from prison, Russell, Givens, Randle, J. Diggs, and D. Diggs also face a term of supervised release of up to three years.
