Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, April 4, 2023:
Eight more individuals have been sentenced for their roles in a widespread staged-accident fraud scheme in New Orleans.
On Feb. 15, Herbert Allen was sentenced to three years and a month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and Dion Ridley got six months in prison, followed by a year of supervised release.
According to U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, Allen falsely claimed he was a driver of a car that was struck by a tractor-trailer on June 28, 2017. Ridley, a passenger in the car, falsely claimed that Allen was driving the car. Instead, others drove the car and intentionally collided with a truck. Allen was able to secure a $50,000 settlement from the owner and insurer of the truck, while Ridley pocketed $90,000.
Another three individuals were sentenced March 1 -- Bernell Gale, Tanya Givens, and Dakota Diggs. Gale received three years of probation, while Givens and Diggs received five years of the same. Diggs was ordered to pay $11,000 in restitution, and Givens was ordered to pay more than $360,000 in restitution.
According to Evans, Givens conspired to stage an accident with a truck on March 27, 2017, then made claims of personal injuries with another passenger, receiving $272,500 for the fraudulent claims. Diggs and Gale were reportedly passengers in separate vehicles used in staged collisions on May 17, 2017, and claimed injuries as a result, receiving approximately $10,000 from the trucking and insurance companies.
Troy Smith was sentenced March 8 to six months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a staged accident on May 17, 2020. Smith was a passenger in a car that collided with a tractor-trailer and falsely claimed the truck hit their car.
