Gibson Man Sentenced for Federal Conspiracy to Stage Automobile Accidents

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –  Yesterday,  LARRY PICOU (“PICOU”), age 57, of Gibson, Louisiana, was sentenced 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, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, PICOU falsely claimed he was a passenger in a car that was struck by a tractor-trailer on May 11, 2017. In fact, PICOU conspired with others to intentionally collide with a tractor-trailer in the area of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road in New Orleans.  After the intentional collision, PICOU and his other co-conspirators made a false police report, lied in depositions, and filed fraudulent lawsuits falsely claiming that the tractor-trailer was at fault.  This scheme caused the insurance company for the tractor-trailer to pay over $140,000.00 in settlement funds. 

U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced PICOU to serve a term of five (5) years’ probation.  PICOU was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $200,963.59 and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria M. Carboni, Edward Rivera, and Brandon S. Long, all of the Financial Crimes Unit and Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.