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10 Suspects Arrested, 6 Wanted in Louisiana After Allegedly Filing False Injury Claims to Collect Insurance Benefits

Houma, Louisiana – Louisiana State Police (LSP) reported on January 31, 2023, that in May of 2021, the LSP Insurance Fraud-Auto Theft Unit Houma Field Office began investigating a criminal fraud complaint against a supplemental health insurance provider. As the investigation progressed, investigators discovered a group of 16 suspects who allegedly knowingly manufactured and filed fraudulent medical documents in 2019 and 2020. The suspects claimed to have been injured in an accident in order to obtain financial benefits, which resulted in over $85,000 being stolen from AFLAC insurance provider.

As a result of the investigation, the following suspects were arrested and charged with Medical Insurance Fraud and Theft under various statutes.

In Terrebonne Parish, the following people have been arrested:

• 35-year-old Georgie Jones of Houma, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (1 Count) and L.R.S. 14:67B (4) Misd. Theft (Less than $1,000)
• 63-year-old Katie Pierre of Houma, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (2 Counts) and L.R.S. 14:67B (3) Felony Theft (Less than $5,000) (1 Count)
• 42-year-old Latonya Bergeron of Houma, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (14 Counts) and L.R.S. 14:67B (1) Felony Theft (Over $25,000) (1 Count)
• 33-year-old Megean Pierre of Houma, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (11 Counts) and L.R.S. 14:67B (2) Felony Theft (Over $5,000) (1 Count)
• 36-year-old Nicholas Ward of Houma, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (3 Counts)
• 41-year-old Rayne Pierre of Gonzales, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (11 Counts) and L.R.S. 14:67B (2) Felony Theft (Over $5,000) (1 Count)
• 54-year-old Saundra Smith of Houma, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (2 Counts) and L.R.S. 14:67B (2) Felony Theft (Over $5,000) (1 Count)
• 43-year-old Tamara Matthews of Houma, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (1 Count) and L.R.S. 14:67B (3) Felony Theft (Less than $5,000) (1 Count)
• 49-year-old Yolanda Tillman of Houma, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (6 Counts) and L.R.S. 14:67B (3) Felony Theft (Less than $5,000) (1 Count)

Arrested in Lafourche Parish:

• 36-year-old Nikita Gilton of Thibodaux, Louisiana: L.R.S. 22:1924 General (Medical) Insurance Fraud (2 Counts)

The following individuals were still wanted at the time this was published:

• 48-year-old Herman E. Verdin Jr. of Houma, Louisiana
• 34-year-old Christopher J. Walls of Houma, Louisiana
• 38-year-old Perry J. Pierre of Houma, Louisiana
• 48-year-old Corey Butler of Houma, Louisiana
• 58-year-old James T. Lathan of Raceland, Louisiana
• 38-year-old Darrel D. Charles of Raceland, Louisiana

During this investigation, investigators from the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud-Auto Theft Unit collaborated closely with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office.

According to Louisiana State Police, the public plays an important role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes and is strongly encouraged to report criminal or suspicious activity. Authorities said that anyone with information on the wanted subjects is asked to call the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud-Auto Theft – Houma Field Office at (985) 876-8834, Ext. 215.

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