Louisiana Staged Auto Collision Scheme: Woman pleads guilty

Louisiana Staged Auto Collision Scheme: Woman pleads guilty
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United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Stacie Wheaton, age 51, of Fairburn, Georgia, pled guilty on July 21, 2022, to count one (1) of her indictment, charging Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

This was disclosed by Duane A. Evans, United States Attorney. In exchange, the government has agreed to dismiss four counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 2.

Stacie faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years; and a fine of up to $250,000.00, as well as a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for count 1.

Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in Operation Sideswipe to 38.

The defendant, according to court documents, served as an intermediary who recruited and directed passengers to participate in staged automobile collisions with tractor-trailers on May 17, 2017, and June 6, 2017. The passengers in these collisions filed fraudulent lawsuits that falsely claimed that the tractor-trailers were at fault.

Stacey Wheaton coordinated with co-conspirators including “slammer” Damian Labeaud and attorney Patrick Keating to arrange the staged collisions.

Sentencing in this matter is set for October 26, 2022, by the Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo.

 

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

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