Sunday, June 12, 2016

Two plead guilty to insurance fraud in St. James, LA






Published: Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 1:35 p.m.



A Thibodaux man and Vacherie woman were sentenced to two years' supervised probation after pleading guilty last week to insurance fraud charges, the 23rd Judicial District Court said Friday.


Joseph Toups, 48, 533 La. 308, is guilty of insurance fraud, and Penny Schexnayder, 53, 1151 La. 18, is guilty of principal to insurance fraud, District Court spokesman Tyler Cavalier said.

In December, Toups reported his motorcycle was stolen from Schexnayder's home and filed an insurance claim, Cavalier said. Investigators later discovered the two had taken the motorcycle to a boat launch and put it in the water.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Tureau prosecuted the case, and Judge Thomas Kliebert presided.