Six Connecticut men have been charged with staging car crashes so they could make fraudulent insurance claims, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly said on Tuesday that five Norwich residents and one New London resident have been indicted by a federal grand jury on fraud and conspiracy offenses.
Daly said the men staged about 50 accidents, many of them single-vehicle crashes on remote roads and with no witnesses other than the driver.
After each crash, the defendants filed fraudulent property damage and personal injury insurance claims, leading to insurance payouts ranging from about $10,000 to about $30,000, officials said.
Prosecutors said five of the defendants are citizens of Haiti, three of whom are legal U.S. residents. Three are free on bond, two are detained and one remains at large.
An indictment charges Mackenzy Noze, also known as “Ken Ken,” 31, of Norwich; Jonas Joseph, 32, also known as “James,” of Norwich; Frandy Dugue, 39, also known as “Jimmy,” of Norwich; Carlins Calixte, 32, of Norwich; Jacques Fleurijeune, 26, also known as “Magic,” of New London; and Pierre Jeudy, 56, of Norwich.
Fleurijeune, Jeudy and Dugue were arrested on May 20. Noze and Calixte were arrested on May 23.
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Noze and Fleurijeune are detained, Dugue, Calixte and Jeudy were released on bond and officials are searching for Joseph.
