Two More Defendants Sentenced for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents to Defraud Insurance and Trucking Companies | USAO-EDLA

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans introduced nowadays that CHANDRIKA BROWN (“BROWN”), age 31, and AISHA THOMPSON (“THOMPSON“), age 44, the two of New Orleans, Louisiana, ended up sentenced currently for Conspiracy to Dedicate Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Portion 371, arising out of staged auto accidents with tractor-trailers transpiring in New Orleans.

In accordance to documents submitted in federal courtroom, BROWN, alongside with her co-defendants, Doniesha Gibson (Gibson), of New Orleans, Louisiana and Ishais Price (Price), of New Orleans, and a co-defendant driver conspired to dedicate mail fraud in connection with a staged accident with a co-defendant driver on October 15, 2015. THOMPSON, alongside with her co-defendants, Dewayne Coleman, Erica Lee Thompson (“Erica Lee”), Donisha Lee, Passenger A, and yet another unique, conspired to commit mail fraud in relationship with a staged accident with the exact co-defendant driver, taking place on September 6, 2017. Consequently significantly, the total range of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” is thirty-six (36).

BROWN claimed that on Oct 15, 2015, she was a passenger in a 2014 Dodge Avenger owned and pushed by Gibson that was strike by a Hotard bus while traveling on the I-10 near the flyover of the I-510. Also in the car was defendant Selling price. In real truth, a co-defendant questioned Gibson to recruit Brown and Rate to journey together as passengers and he then sought out a commercial vehicle to intentionally strike. Following the staged incident, the co-defendant driver switched seats with Gibson, and they referred to as the N.O.P.D. Gibson, along with the passengers, falsely mentioned that the Hotard bus illegally improved lanes and brought about the accident. Thereafter, BROWN, Gibson, Rate, and the co-defendant driver each retained counsel and built calls for from Hotard’s proprietor and insurance provider for personal injuries damages. As a consequence of the promises, the insurance provider utilized the U.S. mails to send out the settlement drafts to BROWN, Gibson, Value, and the co-defendant driver’s counsel. The whole settlement for the Hotard bus accident was somewhere around $677,500.

Likewise, THOMPSON falsely claimed that on September 6, 2017, on the I-10 in the vicinity of the Almonaster exit, she was a passenger in co-defendant Erica Lee’s 2015 RAV4 currently being pushed by their former co-defendant, when he deliberately crashed into a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Specific. Immediately after the staged accident, the driver exited the RAV4 and informed Erica Lee to get at the rear of the wheel of the RAV4 to make it appear that Erica Lee was driving the auto at the time of the staged accident.  The defendants contacted the NOPD and falsely claimed that Erica Lee was the driver at the time of the collision. Passenger A falsely claimed to the NOPD that she was THOMPSON.  Close to a single or two times just after the staged incident, Coleman, Donisha Lee, Erica Lee, THOMPSON, and an additional person went to an attorney’s place of work for the goal of amassing dollars from the insurance and trucking company. THOMPSON and her co-defendants sought health-related therapy from physicians and healthcare providers. THOMPSON was handled even with not staying in the RAV4 at the time of the staged incident. THOMPSON retained counsel and made a assert for damages. The whole settlement for the Averitt incident was $30,000. On March 26, 2019, Coleman, Donisha Lee, and an additional specific every single presented false testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with the Thompson Lawsuit. On April 9, 2019, THOMPSON delivered phony testimony in a deposition taken in conjunction with the Thompson Lawsuit. In these depositions, THOMPSON and her co-defendants lied about the September 6, 2017 incident which include, but not limited to, who was driving the RAV4 and the extent of their injuries.

United States District Decide Sarah S. Vance sentenced BROWN to 3 years’ probation, 100 hrs community services, restitution in the quantity of $121,076.75, and a $100.00 particular evaluation charge. and THOMPSON to 18 months incarceration, followed by 3 yrs of supervised release, 100 several hours of neighborhood assistance, restitution in the quantity of $677,500.00, and a $100.00 specific evaluation fee.

The U.S. Attorney’s Workplace would also like to admit the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Law enforcement, and the Metropolitan Criminal offense Fee with this matter. The prosecution of this case is remaining dealt with by Assistant U.S. Legal professional Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit Assistant U.S. Lawyer Edward J. Rivera Assistant U.S. Legal professional Maria Carboni and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Extensive.