State Police Arrest 8 In Lafayette Staged Crashes, Looking For 3 More

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL) -- An Arnaudville man is behind bars amid allegations he orchestrated a series of staged crashes that resulted in the defrauding of hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance companies.

According to Louisiana State Police Trooper Stephen Hammons, insurance fraud detectives with the Lafayette Field Office were notified in February of 2012 about crashes in Lafayette Parish that may have been staged.

Investigators learned the three crashes happened from September 2011 through May 2012 and that they involved at least six children ranging in ages from one-year-old to 13-years-old, Hammons said.

"Two of the crashes involved a total of eight people, including children," Hammons said," while one crash involved a total of ten people."

The investigation quickly focused on 43-year-old Farice Daigle, Jr., who allegedly "coordinated and arranged the crashes," Hammons said.

Daigle was paid a portion of each victim's settlement from the insurance claims, Hammons said.

"Each adult involved in the crash filed separate fraudulent bodily injury claims for themselves and the children for which they were responsible," Hammons said.

Daigle was arrested in Lafayette Friday, Hammons said, and he was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on three counts of insurance fraud, three counts of theft over $500, and two counts of child endangerment. Daigle has a $500,000 bond, according to jail records.

Police arrested several other individuals, including 24-year-old Chase Joseph of Lafayette, 21-year-old Chelsie Chevalier of Baton Rouge, 27-year-old Candice Alex of Carencro, 24-year-old Cherita Washington of Opelousas, 29-year-old Gregory Hayes of Opelousas, 21-year-old Angel Broussard of Baton Rouge, 32-year-old Jamie Ceasar of Opelousas, and 24-year-old Kendall Traller of Lafayette.

Police are still looking to arrst 27-year-old Courtney Thierry of Opelousas, 24-year-old Niiya Sanders of LaPlace, and 27-year-old Seth Daigle of Opelousas.

If you have any information about the location of these people, you're urged to call Louisiana State Police at (337) 262-3341.