Another Defendant has Plead Guilty to a Staged Vehicle Collision Scheme in Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on September 29, 2022, that Larry Picou (“Picou”), age 56, of Gibson, Louisiana has agreed to plead guilty on September 28, 2022, to count one in his indictment, charging him with Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. In exchange, the government has agreed to dismiss two counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 2. In pleading guilty to count 1, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three years, and a fine of up to $250,000.00, as well as a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

According to court documents, Picou falsely claimed to be a passenger in an automobile hit by a tractor-trailer on May 11, 2017. In reality, the defendant, Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Mario Solomon (“Solomon”), and others conspired to intentionally collide with a tractor-trailer near Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road in New Orleans. Following the planned collision, Picou and his co-conspirators filed a bogus police report, lied in depositions, and filed phony lawsuits claiming that the tractor-trailer was to blame. Picou and his co-conspirators used this strategy to get the tractor-trailer insurance company to pay over $140,000.00 in settlement payments. The Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo scheduled sentencing for January 18, 2023.

The United States Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its help in this investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit Brian M. Klebba, Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long.