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Three arrests made in $10 million staged crash scheme
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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- An investigation into a multi-million-dollar suspected staged crash scheme has led to the arrest of three men.
On March 25, officials with the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit Breaux Bridge Field Office, launched an investigation that led to the arrests of Justin Ledet, 45, of Rayne, Steven Thomas, 38, of Lafayette and Alfred Onezine, 37, of Breaux Bridge.
The investigation began after authorities received a criminal complaint from the Louisiana Department of Insurance, following a report from a trucking company which suspected fraudulent activity related to a crash that occurred on January 19, in Lafayette Parish.
Officials determined that Ledet, Thomas and Onezine conspired to stage a crash at the intersection of Willow Street and Teurlings Drive. They said Ledet, while operating the company’s truck, intentionally struck the rear of a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Thomas, who was accompanied by Onezine and three juvenile passengers.
Officials said following the crash, all five occupants of the Silverado filed insurance claims against the trucking company, seeking a combined potential fraud amount of approximately $10 million in damages.
On May 2, officials arrested Ledet and Thomas for automobile insurance fraud. Both were processed into a Lafayette Parish jail without incident.
On May 29, authorities arrested Onezine on a warrant for three counts of cruelty to juveniles and four counts of automobile insurance fraud. Officials said during the arrest, Onezine resisted police and was additionally charged with resisting an officer. He was processed into a St. Martin Parish jail without further incident.
This investigation remains ongoing.