Herbert Allen, Mail Fraud, Louisiana 2023

Two more defendants from New Orleans have pleaded guilty in a staged automobile collision scheme. Herbert Allen, 37, and Dion Ridley, 23, agreed to plead guilty to count one of their indictment, charging Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Allen and Ridley conspired to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged automobile collision. They falsely claimed that Allen was the driver of a car that was struck by a tractor-trailer on June 28, 2017.

However, the government’s evidence showed that the defendants conspired with others to intentionally collide Allen’s 2007 Chevrolet Impala with a tractor-trailer in the area of Tchoupitoulas Street and Calliope Street in New Orleans. Both defendants lied in civil depositions, falsely claiming that Allen was driving the car that collided with the tractor-trailer.

Allen and Ridley hoped that, through their false statements, they would secure lucrative monetary settlements from the owner, driver, and insurer of the tractor-trailer. As part of their plea, the defendants admitted to conspiring to commit mail fraud.

The maximum penalty for each defendant is five years’ imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three years; and a fine up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. They also face a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in Operation Sideswipe to 41. Sentencing is set for both defendants on February 15, 2023, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.

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 Brandon S. Long; Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera.

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