5 Arrested in Louisiana Auto Insurance Fraud Case

March 4, 2010

Louisiana State Police have arrested five people on charges ranging from felony theft to insurance fraud.

In September 2009, troopers obtained information from the Department of Insurance about a possible staged crash ring in St. Landry Parish. Troopers said they found evidence indicating the crash was staged, and had not happened how the individuals involved claimed.

Trooper Stephen Hammons says detectives discovered that five people each filed a separate claim with the insurance company, which totaled approximately $113,000.

Authorities say 40-year-old Lora Nobles, 58-year-old Moses Williams, 46-year-old Elridge Tezano and 49-year-old Phil Fontenot, all of Opelousas, and 47-year-old Charlene Frame of Port Barre were booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail.