Four Individuals Sentenced for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents | USAO-EDLA

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans introduced that DAVID BROWN (“BROWN”), age 51, of Morgan Metropolis, Louisiana GILDA HENDERSON (“HENDERSON”), age 70, of Morgan Metropolis, Louisiana LATRELL JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 30, of  New Orleans, Louisiana and STACIE WHEATEN (“WHEATEN”), age 51 of Fairburn, Georgia, were being sentenced on February 8, 2023 for Conspiracy to Dedicate Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Part 371, arising out of staged car incidents with tractor-trailers transpiring in New Orleans.  

In accordance to court docket paperwork, WHEATEN and other folks introduced “slammer” Damian Labeaud to attorney Patrick Keating in 2017.  At this conference, Keating agreed to pay out Labeaud for staged car collisions.  WHEATEN recruited travellers to take part in staged car mishaps with tractor-trailers in New Orleans, which include on Might 17, 2017 and on June 5, 2017. The passengers in these collisions submitted fraudulent lawsuits that falsely claimed  the tractor-trailers had been at fault. 

BROWN, HENDERSON, and JOHNSON served as passengers for a collision on Could 11, 2017.  These defendants conspired with Labeaud and many others to intentionally collide with a tractor-trailer in the region of Chef Menteur Freeway and Downman Road in New Orleans.  Following the intentional collision, BROWN, HENDERSON, and JOHNSON manufactured a untrue police report, lied in depositions, and/or filed fraudulent lawsuits proclaiming that the tractor-trailer was at fault.  As a consequence of this conduct, the insurance enterprise for the tractor-trailer involved in the May 11, 2017 collision paid about $140,000.00 in settlement funds.

U.S. District Courtroom Choose Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced WHEATEN to provide 18 months in jail, to be adopted by two (2) several years of supervised launch.  WHEATEN was also requested to pay restitution in the volume of $54,000.00 and a mandatory exclusive evaluation payment of $100.  BROWN, HENDERSON, and JOHNSON had been each individual sentenced to serve three (3) years of probation. Furthermore, Judge Milazzo purchased BROWN, HENDERSON, and JOHNSON each and every to pay back restitution in the volume of $200,963.59 and a obligatory special evaluation charge of $100.

The U.S. Attorney’s Business would like to acknowledge the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this subject. The prosecution of this case is remaining dealt with by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, Assistant U.S. Lawyer Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Monetary Crimes Device, Assistant U.S. Legal professional Edward J. Rivera, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Very long.

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