December 16th, 2021
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced
GENETTA ISREAL (“ISREAL”), age 53, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced today for
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371,
arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.
Thus far, twenty-nine (29) of the thirty-three (33) indicted defendants have tendered guilty
pleas in federal court.
According to documents filed in federal court, Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Mario Solomon
(“Solomon”), Larry Williams (“Williams”), and ISREAL were charged with staging an
accident on June 12, 2017, occurring on Chef Menteur Highway near the Danziger Bridge in
New Orleans. Labeaudand Williams planned to stage an automobile accident to obtain
money through fraud. During their planning, Labeaud told Williams that he had an attorney,
Daniel Patrick Keating (“Keating”), who has been identified in other documents filed in
federal court, who would handle everything. Williams recruited ISREAL and another
individual (now deceased) to participate in the fraudulent scheme. Williams borrowed a
Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Labeaud operated the Trailblazer to collide with a 2015 Peterbilt
tractor-trailer. After the staged accident, Labeaud fled the scene and Williams got behind the
wheel to make it appear that he was operating the Trailblazer during the staged accident.
Solomon picked up Labeaud after the staged accident. Williams told the New Orleans Police
Department (“NOPD”) that he was the driver of the Trailblazer and that the tractor-trailer
was at fault. After the staged accident,Labeaud introducedWilliams and ISREAL to
Keating.
Williams and ISREAL were treated by doctors and healthcare providers at the direction of
Keating. On June 12, 2018, Keating’s firm filed the Larry Williams Lawsuit in Civil District
Court (“CDC”) for the Parish of Orleans and on September 14, 2018, Keating’s firm
2/2 demanded approximately $60,000.00 in settlement for the deceased passenger and
approximately $56,155.00 in settlement for ISREAL. After the suit was filed, Williams and
ISREAL each provided false testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with the lawsuit
filed by Keating’s firm.
U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon sentenced ISREAL to three (3) years probation with the
first six (6) months to be served under home incarceration. In addition, ISREAL was
ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $28,816.64 and a $100 mandatory special
assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission
with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera;
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long.