Another Defendant Sentenced in Louisiana for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents in Order to Defraud Insurance and Trucking Companies

New Orleans, Louisiana – Another defendant has been sentenced in Louisiana for conspiring to stage automobile accidents in order to defraud insurance and trucking companies.

United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Marvel Francois (“Francois”), age 54, of Houma, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 22, 2023, for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans, Louisiana.

According to court records, Francois, along with participants Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Bernell Gale (“Gale”), Troy Smith (“Smith”), and another passenger, took part in a staged accident near Louisa Street and Chickasaw Street on May 17, 2020. Labeaud ran away from the scene.
Francois allegedly reported to the NOPD that she was driving her Dodge Durango when a tractor-trailer collided with it. Gale and Smith were sentenced previously by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk. Damian Labeaud will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon on June 8, 2023.

Francois was sentenced to 5 years probation, 100 hours of community service, $20,654.48 in restitution, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment charge by United States District Judge Lance M. Africk.

The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission for their help in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Rivera, Maria Carboni, and Brandon Long of the Financial Crimes Unit.