Louisiana Woman Sentenced in Connection with Automobile Collision Scheme to Defraud Insurance Companies and Trucking Companies 

New Orleans, Louisiana – A Louisiana woman has been sentenced in connection with an automobile collision scheme to defraud insurance companies and trucking companies.

Troylynn Brown (“Brown”), age 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance on March 29, 2023, after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Brown was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release by Judge Vance. In addition, Judge Vance ordered a mandatory special assessment cost of $100.

According to court filings, Brown admitted to scheming to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged car accident. Brown falsely claimed in the scheme that her codefendant, Herbert Allen (“Allen”), was the driver of a car that was hit by a tractor-trailer on June 28, 2017. In actuality, the defendants conspired with Damien Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Roderick Hickman (“Hickman”), and others to collision Allen’s 2007 Chevrolet Impala with a tractor-trailer near Tchoupitoulas and Calliope Streets in New Orleans, Louisiana. Brown later lied in a civil deposition, stating that Allen was driving the automobile that crashed with the tractor-trailer when, in fact, Hickman was driving the car and purposefully collided with the tractor-trailer.
Through her false statements and deception, Brown secured a $70,000 monetary settlement from the owner and insurer of the tractor-trailer.

The United States Attorney’s Office thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission for their help with this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon S. Long, Maria M. Carboni, and Edward Rivera, all of whom are members of the Financial Crimes Unit, as well as Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.