Two More New Orleans Area Defendants Sentenced for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Collisions in Order to Defraud Insurance and Trucking Companies | USAO-EDLA

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Legal professional Duane A. Evans introduced now that on May well 25, 2022 DONIESHA GIBSON (“GIBSON”), age 31, of New Orleans, Louisiana and ERICA LEE THOMPSON (“ERICA LEE”), age 47, of Harvey, Louisiana, were being sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Area 371, arising out of staged car collisions with tractor-trailers taking place in New Orleans.

According to documents filed in federal court docket, GIBSON and ERICA LEE, alongside with their co-conspirators and other individuals, commencing in roughly as early as 2015 and continuing by way of the present, conspired to commit wire fraud in connection with staged accidents, including two that happened on October 15, 2015,  and September 6, 2017.  Hence far, the total variety of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” is thirty-seven (37).

GIBSON admitted to getting a passenger in a staged accident on October 15, 2015.   On that working day, her former co-defendant deliberately drove a 2014 Dodge Avenger owned by GIBSON into a Hotard bus although touring on the I-10 around the flyover of the I-510.   GIBSON retained an legal professional and thereafter created a assert for damages. The complete settlement for the Hotard bus accident was around $677,500.00.

ERICA LEE admitted that on September 6, 2017, on the I-10 around the Almonaster exit, she was a passenger in a 2015 RAV4 getting driven by their former co-defendant, when he intentionally crashed into a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Convey.  ERICA LEE retained counsel and made a claim for damages. The overall settlement for the Averitt incident was $30,000.

 In overall, the victim trucking, bus, and insurance firms paid out out close to $707,500.00 for these two fraudulent promises orchestrated by the defendants and others.

United States District Decide Sarah S. Vance sentenced GIBSON to seventeen (17) months incarceration, adopted by a three(3) calendar year term of supervised release, restitution in the amount of money of $677,500.00, and a $100.00 obligatory unique assessment cost.  THOMPSON was sentenced to three (3) several years probation, restitution in the volume of $121,076.75, 100 several hours of local community service, and a $100.00 required specific assessment fee.

The U.S. Attorney’s Business would also like to accept the aid of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana Point out Law enforcement, and the Metropolitan Criminal offense Commission with this subject. The prosecution of this scenario is being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Main of the Economical Crimes Unit Assistant U.S. Lawyer Edward J. Rivera Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Prolonged.