9 People Arrested From 3 Parishes For Alleged Roles In Insurance Fraud Scheme

An insurance fraud scheme that La. State Police investigators say had a financial impact of about $55,312.95 has landed nine people from Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis and St. John the Baptist Parishes behind bars.

The arrested were the following: 36-year-old Florina Thomas, 30-year-old Michelle Kral, 65-year-old Peggy Trahan and 36-year-old Florence Thomas – all of Lake Charles; 35-year-old Clifford Leday of Fenton; 37-year-old Monica Malbrough of Welch; 32-year-old Charliette Rousseve of Reserve; and 26-year-old Kerrian Clofer and 42-year-old Davanna Tripps – both of Laplace.

Charges range from Insurance Fraud/Theft to Accessory after the Fact Insurance Fraud/Theft.

This is an investigation that began in 2014 when Kemper Home Service Group contacted La. State Police and alleged that certain agents in their Lake Charles Union National Insurance office were filing fake claims and keeping the money received in those claims, the majority of which were for lightning damage losses to electrical appliances. The company suspected that these Union National employees allegedly used fabricated lightning affidavits or modified old affidavits. Troopers later found that illegal fraudulent activity had allegedly happened.

You’re encouraged to contact Louisiana State Police by calling (225) 925-3701 or (225) 925-3702 or via email at insurance.fraud.unit@dps.la.gov if you have any knowledge of a fraudulent insurance scheme.