Another Louisiana Defendant Sentenced to Prison in Staged Automobile Crash Conspiracy  

New Orleans, Louisiana – On Thursday, December 15, 2022, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Henry Randle (“Randle ”), age 66, of Gibson, Louisiana, was sentenced on December 14, 2022, 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.

According to court records, Randle, along with participants Damian Labeaud ("Labeaud"), Mario Solomon ("Solomon"), Ryan Wheaten ("Wheaten"), and Dakota Diggs ("D. Diggs"), staged an automobile crash with a tractor-trailer in New Orleans on May 17, 2017. Labeaud intentionally collided with a tractor-trailer before fleeing the scene with Solomon. Randle allegedly reported to the New Orleans Police Department that he was driving and that the tractor-trailer was to blame for the accident. Shortly thereafter, Labeaud and Solomon staged a second accident with Bernell Gale ("Gale"), Troy Smith ("Smith"), Marvel Francois ("Francois"), and another passenger near the intersection of Louisa Street and Chickasaw Street. Following the simulated crash, Randle, Wheaten, and D. Diggs filed personal injury claims. For these bogus claims, victim insurance companies paid out about $10,000. In addition to Randle, Labeaud, Solomon, Wheaten, Gale, Smith, and Francois pled guilty to the charges against them.

Randle was sentenced to twelve months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service by U.S. District Court Judge Lance M. Africk. Randle was additionally forced to pay $11,000 in reparation. In addition, Judge Africk ordered an obligatory special assessment of $100.

The U.S. Attorney's Office would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Crime Commission for their help with this case. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni, Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera, and Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long are prosecuting this case.