Anthony Robinson, Mail Fraud, Louisiana 2024

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – A brazen scheme to defraud trucking and insurance companies has landed four New Orleans residents in hot water, with charges of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

The indictment, announced by United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser, names Anthony Robinson, 66; Audrey Harris, 53; Jerry Schaffer, 65; and Keishira Robinson, 25, as defendants in the case.

According to the indictment, the four defendants were involved in the staging of an automobile accident with a tractor-trailer on October 13, 2015, in the area of Alvar Street and France Road in New Orleans. The scheme allegedly involved intentionally colliding with the tractor-trailer and then staging the accident to defraud trucking and insurance companies.

The indictment alleges that Audrey Harris, Jerry Schaffer, and Keishira Robinson intentionally collided with the tractor-trailer and then were picked up from the collision site by Damian Labeaud, who had previously pleaded guilty to staging automobile accidents. Anthony Robinson, who had been in Labeaud’s vehicle, then got behind the wheel of his own vehicle to make it appear that he had been driving at the time of the staged accident.

The passengers in the vehicle were referred to an attorney who paid Labeaud and Audrey Harris to stage accidents. The defendants were treated by doctors and healthcare providers at the direction of their attorneys, and Anthony Robinson, Audrey Harris, and Jerry Schaffer underwent surgeries. In total, the victim trucking and insurance company paid out approximately $4.7 million for the fraudulent claims associated with this staged accident.

The four defendants will be required to appear before a United States Magistrate Judge for an initial appearance and arraignment on this indictment. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five years for Count 1 and twenty years as to Counts 2-3.

U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shirin Hakimzadeh, Brian M. Klebba, Maria Carboni, and Edward Rivera.

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