Louisiana Defendant Pleads Guilty in Staged Automobile Collision Scheme
Louisiana Defendant Pleads Guilty in Staged Automobile Collision Scheme
Louisiana – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Ashley McGowan (“McGowan”), age 35, agreed to plead guilty on March 31, 2022, to Count One in her indictment, charging Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. In exchange, the government has agreed to dismiss Count Two, charging 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; a fine up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571; and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” to thirty-three.
McGowan admitted to being a part of a conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged car accident as part of her plea agreement. McGowan used the scheme to falsely claim that she was a passenger in a car that was hit by a tractor-trailer on June 8, 2016. Indeed, the government’s evidence established that the defendants conspired with Damien Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Keishira Robinson (“K. Robinson”), and others to intentionally collide with K. Robinson’s Mazda with a tractor-trailer near Chickasaw and Louisa Streets in New Orleans.
McGowan later lied in her civil deposition, claiming that K. Robinson was driving the car that collided with the tractor-trailer when, in fact, Labeaud was driving the car and purposefully collided with the tractor-trailer. McGowan also falsely claimed that she was in the car at the time of the collision, despite the fact that she was riding in a separate “spotter” or getaway car and only entered the “slammer” car after the collision. McGowan hoped that by making false statements, she would be able to obtain large monetary settlements from the tractor-owner, trailer’s driver, and insurer.
The sentencing hearing, in this case, is set for June 14, 2022, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
The United States Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission for their assistance with this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit Brian M. Klebba, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera.
Louisiana Interstate 20 Crash Near Highway 602-2 Results in Two Fatalities
Mound, Louisiana - A fatal two-vehicle crash on Interstate 20 near Louisiana Highway 602-2 claimed the lives of two Monroe residents early Wednesday morning, July 9, 2025. Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to the scene shortly before 4:00 a.m., launching a...
Louisiana State Police Investigate Double Fatality Crash on Highway 17
Warden, Louisiana - A fatal two-vehicle crash occurred on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, shortly before 9 p.m., on Louisiana Highway 17 just north of Louisiana Highway 855, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to a third. The incident is under investigation...
Louisiana Crash on US Highway 190 Claims Life of Eunice Woman, Investigation Ongoing
Elton, Louisiana - A fatal single-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 3:00 p.m. on July 7, 2025, on U.S. Highway 190 near Bornsdall Road in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. According to Louisiana State Police Troop D, the incident claimed the life of Chelsea...