Genetta Isreal, Conspiring to Commit Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2021

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

Genetta Isreal, a 53-year-old woman from Houston, Texas, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

Isreal was charged alongside Damien Labeaud, Mario Solomon, and Larry Williams for staging an automobile accident on June 12, 2017, near the Danziger Bridge in New Orleans. The accident involved a 2015 Peterbilt tractor-trailer and a Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Labeaud.

According to the indictment, Labeaud, Williams, and Isreal planned to stage the accident to obtain money through fraud. Williams borrowed a Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Labeaud drove it to collide with the tractor-trailer. After the staged accident, Williams got behind the wheel to make it appear that he was driving the Trailblazer during the staged accident.

Isreal and Williams were treated by doctors and healthcare providers at the direction of Attorney A. On June 12, 2018, Attorney A's firm filed a lawsuit in Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans seeking approximately $60,000 in settlement for the deceased passenger and approximately $56,155 in settlement for Isreal.

After the suit was filed, Isreal and Williams each provided false testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with the lawsuit.

Isreal faces a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000. She also faces up to 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing will occur before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon on November 4, 2021.

The U.S. Attorney's Office would 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. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera; Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/texas-woman-pleads-guilty-conspiring-stage-automobile-accidents-order-defraud-insurance