Louisiana State Police have made 34 arrests in statewide insurance fraud investigations, and several people from our area were among those jailed.

According to an LSP news release, investigators worked closely with the LA Department of Insurance, local judicial offices and the Louisiana Attorney General's office to successfully bring individuals involved in committing insurance fraud to justice.

Some of the people arrested participated in staged, or "jump-in" crashes. These cost the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry billions of dollars in fraudulent claims each year.

One nearby case happened this past March.

LSP Insurance Fraud Troopers arrested 43-year-old Roxanne Battle of Marthaville and 29-year-old Lemian Colbert of Natchitoches on charges of criminal conspiracy and insurance fraud following a complaint from the Louisiana Department Insurance on behalf of Go Auto Insurance. Battle claimed her vehicle was parked on the shoulder of the roadway with a flat tire when a passing motorist, Colbert, stopped to provide assistance. When Colbert exited his vehicle, it rolled backwards, hitting Battle’s vehicle. As Battle filed vehicle damage and bodily injury claims for herself and her minor child with Go Auto, she indicated that she did not know Colbert prior to the incident. The State Police investigation revealed that Battle and Colbert were related and had been involved in three prior insurance claims. It was also revealed that Battle’s minor child was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident. Battle was arrested on March 24 and Colbert was arrested on March 25 by LSP Troopers; both were booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center without incident.

The following people from our region of the state were charged in separate investigations over the past two months:

32-year-old Chirjuan Washington of Shreveport - one count of Possession of a Fraudulent Insurance Identification Card

41-year-old Johnathan Shane Roberts of Shreveport - one count of Insurance Fraud; State Farm Insurance Company

18-year-old Jordan Williams and 19-year-old Dekietrich J. Marshall, both of Mansfield - one count each of Insurance Fraud

66-year-old William Hoof of Coushatta - one count of Insurance Fraud; Farm Bureau Insurance Company

38-year-old Klairone Coleman of Natchitoches - one count of Forgery and Insurance Fraud; Progressive Insurance Company

32-year-old Latricia Latchie-Coleman of Natchitoches -one count of Criminal Conspiracy; Progressive Insurance Company

31-year-old Noah Bell, Jr., of Monroe - one count of Insurance Fraud; Progressive Insurance Company

The public plays an integral role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes and is strongly urged to report criminal or suspicious activity. For more information and/or to contact the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit visit www.lsp.org/ifu.html.

More From News Radio 710 KEEL