Chandrika Brown, Insurance Fraud, Louisiana 2024

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Two women, Chandrika Brown and Aisha Thompson, have been sentenced for their roles in staging automobile accidents to defraud insurance and trucking companies, federal authorities announced today.

Brown, 31, and Thompson, 44, both of New Orleans, were sentenced to probation and restitution for their roles in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud, a crime that has ensnared 36 defendants in total. The scheme, dubbed ‘Operation Sideswipe,’ involved staging accidents with tractor-trailers in New Orleans, with the perpetrators making false claims to collect insurance payouts.

According to court documents, Brown was involved in a staged accident on October 15, 2015, in which she claimed to have been a passenger in a car hit by a Hotard bus. However, investigators found that the accident was staged, and Brown and her co-defendants made false claims to collect a $677,500 settlement.

Thompson was involved in a similar scheme on September 6, 2017, in which she claimed to have been a passenger in a car hit by a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Express. However, investigators found that the accident was also staged, and Thompson and her co-defendants made false claims to collect a $30,000 settlement.

Both Brown and Thompson were sentenced to probation, community service, and restitution for their roles in the scheme. Brown was ordered to pay $121,076.75 in restitution, while Thompson was not ordered to pay restitution. The total number of defendants convicted in ‘Operation Sideswipe’ now stands at 36.

United States Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of investigators in bringing the case to justice. ‘This case demonstrates the serious consequences of insurance fraud, which can lead to higher premiums for honest citizens and undermine the integrity of our financial system,’ Evans said.

The case is part of a larger effort by federal authorities to crack down on insurance fraud and other white-collar crimes in the region. ‘We will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute those who seek to defraud our system,’ Evans said.

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