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New Orleans – On yesterday, Detectives with the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit – New Orleans Field Office arrested 44-year-old Michael Simon of New Orleans for violation of LRS: 14:73.5 (9 counts) Computer Fraud. The arrest was a result of a lengthy investigation into the falsification of insurance certificates by representatives of Scholar First LLC. 42-year-old Melvin Williams of Gonzales and 40-year-old Jeramy Jackson of New Orleans both face charges in connection with the falsification of insurance documents as well.

In 2019, The LSP Insurance Fraud New Orleans Field Office received a complaint that a privatized company called “Scholars First LLC”, which provided school bus transportation to several charter schools in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area, was involved in a minor two vehicle crash in Orleans Parish. Upon exchanging information on scene between both drivers, a representative from Scholars First LLC presented the school bus insurance card which later proved to be fraudulent. The discovery of the fraudulent insurance card led investigators to inquire into the liability and integrity of Scholars First LLC. During the LSP investigation, request was sent to the school’s management organization, requesting Certificates of Liability Insurance. The majority of all of the Certificates received from the school’s management organization were verified as being fraudulent by the insurance companies listed on the certificate. Detectives determined that Simon along with the two owners of Scholar First LLC, Melvin Williams of Gonzales and Jeramy Jackson of New Orleans, both provided falsified documents to several charter schools.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Michael Simon through the 24^th JDC (Jefferson Parish) for the violation of LRS: 73.5, (9 counts) Computer Fraud. On yesterday, Michael Simon was located and booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center without incident. Detectives also obtained arrest warrants for Melvin Williams for violations of LRS:14:73.5 (23 counts) Computer Fraud and Jeramy Jackson for violations of LRS: 14:73.5 (23 counts) Computer Fraud. When located both shall be booked accordingly.

The Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit is responsible for investigating referrals of suspected fraudulent insurance acts. Anyone having information concerning persons staging vehicle crashes, or committing other forms of insurance fraud, should contact the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit at 504-310-7000. More information can be found at http://lsp.org/ifu.html.