NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Lawyer Duane A. Evans introduced right now that CHANDRIKA BROWN (“BROWN”), age 31, and AISHA THOMPSON (“THOMPSON“), age 44, equally of New Orleans, Louisiana, ended up sentenced right now for Conspiracy to Dedicate Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Area 371, arising out of staged auto incidents with tractor-trailers happening in New Orleans.
According to documents filed in federal court, BROWN, along with her co-defendants, Doniesha Gibson (Gibson), of New Orleans, Louisiana and Ishais Value (Cost), of New Orleans, and a co-defendant driver conspired to commit mail fraud in link with a staged incident with a co-defendant driver on Oct 15, 2015. THOMPSON, alongside with her co-defendants, Dewayne Coleman, Erica Lee Thompson (“Erica Lee”), Donisha Lee, Passenger A, and yet another individual, conspired to commit mail fraud in relationship with a staged incident with the exact co-defendant driver, transpiring on September 6, 2017. Therefore far, the full variety of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” is thirty-six (36).
BROWN claimed that on October 15, 2015, she was a passenger in a 2014 Dodge Avenger owned and pushed by Gibson that was hit by a Hotard bus when traveling on the I-10 around the flyover of the I-510. Also in the auto was defendant Price tag. In fact, a co-defendant asked Gibson to recruit Brown and Rate to trip alongside as travellers and he then sought out a professional automobile to intentionally strike. Soon after the staged incident, the co-defendant driver switched seats with Gibson, and they referred to as the N.O.P.D. Gibson, alongside with the passengers, falsely stated that the Hotard bus illegally transformed lanes and induced the incident. Thereafter, BROWN, Gibson, Price, and the co-defendant driver each retained counsel and designed requires from Hotard’s proprietor and insurer for own injury damages. As a end result of the claims, the insurer utilized the U.S. mails to mail the settlement drafts to BROWN, Gibson, Selling price, and the co-defendant driver’s counsel. The whole settlement for the Hotard bus accident was close to $677,500.
Similarly, THOMPSON falsely claimed that on September 6, 2017, on the I-10 in close proximity to the Almonaster exit, she was a passenger in co-defendant Erica Lee’s 2015 RAV4 staying pushed by their previous co-defendant, when he deliberately crashed into a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Specific. Right after the staged incident, the driver exited the RAV4 and informed Erica Lee to get behind the wheel of the RAV4 to make it show up that Erica Lee was driving the car at the time of the staged accident. The defendants contacted the NOPD and falsely claimed that Erica Lee was the driver at the time of the collision. Passenger A falsely claimed to the NOPD that she was THOMPSON. Somewhere around one particular or two times immediately after the staged accident, Coleman, Donisha Lee, Erica Lee, THOMPSON, and one more personal went to an attorney’s place of work for the goal of amassing cash from the insurance policies and trucking organization. THOMPSON and her co-defendants sought clinical treatment method from doctors and healthcare providers. THOMPSON was dealt with regardless of not becoming in the RAV4 at the time of the staged incident. THOMPSON retained counsel and produced a declare for damages. The full settlement for the Averitt incident was $30,000. On March 26, 2019, Coleman, Donisha Lee, and a different particular person each and every offered untrue testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with the Thompson Lawsuit. On April 9, 2019, THOMPSON provided wrong testimony in a deposition taken in conjunction with the Thompson Lawsuit. In these depositions, THOMPSON and her co-defendants lied about the September 6, 2017 accident such as, but not constrained to, who was driving the RAV4 and the extent of their injuries.
United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced BROWN to 3 years’ probation, 100 hrs community provider, restitution in the amount of $121,076.75, and a $100.00 unique assessment charge. and THOMPSON to 18 months incarceration, followed by 3 years of supervised launch, 100 hrs of group support, restitution in the amount of $677,500.00, and a $100.00 exclusive assessment price.
The U.S. Attorney’s Business would also like to acknowledge the guidance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana Condition Law enforcement, and the Metropolitan Criminal offense Commission with this make any difference. The prosecution of this scenario is becoming dealt with by Assistant U.S. Lawyer Brian M. Klebba, Main of the Money Crimes Device Assistant U.S. Lawyer Edward J. Rivera Assistant U.S. Legal professional Maria Carboni and Assistant U.S. Lawyer Brandon Prolonged.