Louisiana Fire Chief and Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested for Insurance Fraud

Published January 4, 2022

Louisiana – The Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office reported a suspected fraudulent insurance claim to the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit-Monroe Field Office in August 2021. A two-vehicle incident involving two Jonesboro Fire Department trucks resulted in this probable fraudulent insurance claim. Brandon Brown, 37, of Jonesboro, LA, and George Wyatt, 58, of Jonesboro, LA, was arrested as a consequence of the investigation. Brown was the Fire Chief for the city of Jonesboro at the time of the investigation, and Wyatt was a Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy.

Brown and Wyatt were found to have allegedly falsified a crash report over the course of the inquiry and based on information acquired. According to the details in the crash report, Brown and Wyatt were the drivers of the automobiles involved. Following interviews with a number of persons, including Brown and Wyatt, it was discovered that Brown’s juvenile son was driving one of the vehicles at the time of the accident. The amount of the bogus claim was over $26,000.00.

Charges of insurance fraud, filing or maintaining false public records, and misconduct in office have all been filed against Brown and Wyatt. They were both booked into the Jackson Parish Jail.

This investigation remains active and ongoing. For more information and/or to contact the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit visit www.lsp.org/ifu.html.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.