Jeffrey Eugene Rose Sr, Worker’s Comp Scam, Louisiana 2023

Related Federal Cases

Monroe Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud in $116K Insurance Scam · Louisiana
CEO Jeffrey Eugene Rose Sr. Convicted in $9.6M Worker’s Comp Scam · Louisiana
Louisiana Conspirator Pleads Guilty in Emissions Fraud Scam · Indiana
Pearland Man Pleads Guilty to Fake TWIC Card Scam · Louisiana
Rouse, Tapia Copped 3 Years Probation in Online Pharmacy Scam · Louisiana

Table of Contents

Two More Guilty in Insurance Scam

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Two men have pleaded guilty to conspiring to stage automobile accidents in order to defraud insurance and trucking companies, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.

JAMES ‘CURTIS’ WILLIAMS, 66, of Gibson, Louisiana, and RYAN WHEATEN, 53, of Lafayette, Louisiana, entered a plea of guilty on June 23, 2021, to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, before United States District Court Judge Lance M. Africk.

According to the guilty plea, on March 27, 2017, WILLIAMS conspired with co-defendants-passengers Tanya Givens, John Diggs, and Lois Russell to stage an accident with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road. Damien Labeaud and Roderick Hickman, who have pleaded guilty to staging other accidents, also participated in this accident.

The scheme involved Hickman intentionally striking the 18-wheeler and then fleeing the scene with Labeaud. Russell advised NOPD that she was the driver and she, along with WILLIAMS, Givens, and J. Diggs, made claims for personal injuries. In total, the victim trucking and insurance companies paid out approximately $272,500.00 for these fraudulent claims.

WILLIAMS joins Hickman, Russell, Givens, and J. Diggs in pleading guilty to this staged accident. Additionally, on May 17, 2017, WHEATEN participated in a staged automobile accident in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 90 East and Calliope Street in New Orleans, along with participants Labeaud, Mario Solomon, Henry Randle, and Dakota Diggs.

The victim trucking and insurance companies paid out approximately $10,000.00 for these fraudulent claims. WILLIAMS and WHEATEN face a maximum sentence of five (5) years, upon release from prison, they also face a term of supervised release up to (3) three years, and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to each defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

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 Edward J. Rivera, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.

Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for October 27, 2021.