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Date: 01-16-2022
Case Style:
Case Number: 2:20-cr-00080-LMA-DPC
Judge: Lance M. Africk
Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana (East Baton Rouge Parish)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Baton Rouge, Louisiana criminal defense attorney represented defendant charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
Ryan Wheaten, age 54, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2017, WHEATEN, along with participants Damien Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Mario Solomon (“Solomon”), Henry Randle (“Randle”), and Dakota Diggs (“D. Diggs”), staged an automobile collision with a tractor-trailer in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 90 East and Calliope Street in New Orleans. Labeaud purposely drove the vehicle into a tractor-trailer and then fled the scene with Solomon. Randle falsely reported to the New Orleans Police Department that he had been driving and that the tractor-trailer was at fault. Shortly thereafter, Labeaud and Solomon went on to stage a second accident in the vicinity of Louisa Street and Chickasaw Street with Bernell Gale (“Gale”), Troy Smith (“Smith”), Marvel Francois (“Francois”), and another passenger. In addition to WHEATEN, Labeaud, Solomon, Gale, Smith, and Francois were also charged and pled guilty.
After the staged collision, WHEATEN, Randle, and D. Diggs made claims for personal injuries. The victim insurance companies paid out approximately $10,000.00 for these fraudulent claims.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced WHEATEN to serve 10 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. WHEATEN was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,000. Judge Africk also imposed a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long.
18:371 CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MAIL FRAUD
(1)
Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay 3 years of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $11,000.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: