Three More from Louisiana Sentenced in Connection with Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents in Order to Defraud Insurance and Trucking Companies

New Orleans, Louisiana – Three individuals from Louisiana have been sentenced and ordered to pay $43,000 in restitution for their involvement in a staged car accident to defraud an insurance company. 

United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Lucinda Thomas (“Thomas”), age 67; Mary Wade (“Wade”), age 58; And Judy Williams (“Williams”), age 62, all of Houma, Louisiana, were sentenced on January 19, 2023, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire 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 documents, Thomas, Wade, Williams, and co-defendant Dashontae Young ("Young") drove from Houma, LA, on June 6, 2017, to meet with Damian Labeaud ("Labeaud") for the purpose of staging an automobile accident in order to obtain money through fraud. Following the meeting, Thomas, Wade, Williams, and Young agreed to let Labeaud drive Thomas' 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche. The defendants then drove around the area of New Orleans' Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road until they came across a 2017 Freightliner tractor-trailer operated by an Arkansas trucking company. Labeaud intentionally collided with the tractor-trailer around 12:30 p.m. Labeaud then exited Thomas' vehicle and instructed Thomas to get behind the wheel of Thomas' Avalanche in order to make it appear as if Thomas was driving at the time of the staged accident.

Thomas, Wade, Williams, and Young called the NOPD and falsely claimed that Thomas was the driver of the Avalanche and that the tractor-trailer had hit her car. Labeaud then returned to the scene and falsely stated to the NOPD that he witnessed the accident and that the tractor-trailer driver was at fault.

Labeaud contacted attorney Patrick Keating ("Keating") before and after the staged accident and arranged a meeting with Thomas, Wade, Williams, and Young at a fast food restaurant on Chef Menteur Highway. Keating then filed two state court lawsuits, which were removed to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Thomas, Wade, and Williams all admitted to giving false testimony in depositions taken in connection with Keating's lawsuits. Thomas, Wade, and Williams eventually settled their cases for $7,500.00 each, but only after a year of pursuing their fraudulent lawsuits.

Thomas, Wade, and WILIAMS were sentenced to 5 years probation, $43,000.00 in restitution, and a $100.00 special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon. Young will be sentenced on February 2, 2023, and Damian Labeaud will be sentenced on May 25, 2023.

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