Lasandra Laverne Edwards, 54, of Monroe, Louisiana, pleaded guilty Monday to mail fraud after orchestrating a scheme to defraud State Farm of more than $116,000 by lying on insurance and bankruptcy documents. The scam unfolded over a matter of weeks in late 2013, exploiting both federal court filings and a devastating house fire.
According to court records, Edwards filed for bankruptcy in October 2013, declaring her furniture and clothing were worth just $1,000. Less than a month later, she took out a renters’ insurance policy with State Farm valuing her personal belongings at $100,000 — more than 100 times her sworn bankruptcy claim.
On December 1, 2013, Edwards’ home burned down. Ten days later, she appeared at a creditors’ hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and again certified that her household goods were valued at $1,000. The very next day, December 11, she filed an insurance claim with State Farm demanding $116,063 for lost personal property — a brazen reversal that triggered a red flag investigation.
Federal prosecutors say the lies were deliberate and calculated. “This wasn’t confusion. This was fraud,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath, who is handling the case alongside Cytheria D. Jernigan. “She swore under oath her possessions were nearly worthless. Then she turned around and demanded over $116,000 from her insurer. That’s not misjudgment — that’s theft.”
Edwards pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes. The plea, which will be formally accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, up to three years of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 1, 2017.
The case was jointly investigated by the U.S. Trustee’s Office – Region V, Louisiana State Police, and the Monroe Fire Department. Authorities say the rapid timeline and contradictory claims made the fraud obvious — and indefensible.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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