Breaux Bridge man gets 5 years for staging auto accidents

Conviction in federal court here this week for auto insurance fraud yielded five years in prison and $193,074.86 in restitution for a Breaux Bridge man.
Oliver Lockett, 44, and two New Iberia men were convicted of staging automobile accidents to collect insurance payments.
Lockett was also given three years of supervised release, to begin after the completion of the sentence.
Aleric Johnson, 50, of New Iberia, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and $62,492.30 restitution. Buddy Estelle, 53, of New Iberia, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
The three men each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to evidence presented at the hearing, the defendants admitted to roles in vehicle accidents between sometime in 2003 until March 10, 2010. Lockett admitted to planning accidents where members of the scheme served either as a driver causing the accident or a witness. As a result, Lockett made multiple claims to insurance companies for property damage and personal injury.
The accidents were staged in Lafayette Parish and surrounding areas.
District Judge Richard T. Haik presided over the hearings.
The Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger prosecuted.