BEAUMONT, Texas – A 51-year-old Groves, Texas man has been found guilty of  charges related to an arson and insurance fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.           

Patrick Wayne Bronnon was found guilty of 40 charges including conspiracy to commit mail fraud and use of a fire in commission of a felony today by a jury following an eight-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.  The jury deliberated approximately 75 minutes before returning with a guilty verdict.

According to information presented in court, beginning in 2011, Bronnon, and others, began executing a scheme to defraud various insurance companies through fraudulent claims on homes and vehicles.  The scheme involved identifying a low value property and purchasing it through a co-defendant straw purchaser.  Within a few weeks of a down payment being made, Bronnon or an associate would intentionally damage the home, typically by fire or water, in order to collect insurance proceeds.  In total, nine fraudulent fire claims, three fraudulent water damage claims, and two fraudulent theft claims were filed with various insurance companies on nine different addresses, totaling approximately $1.7 million in fraudulent payments. The properties were located in Port Arthur, Port Neches, Beaumont, and Sugarland, Texas.

“This was a scheme motivated by greed,” said U.S. Attorney Joe Brown. “It cost insurance companies certainly, but it also endangered people - emergency personnel, neighbors, and others.  And these frauds contribute to higher insurance costs for all of us.  We take these things very seriously.”

Under the federal statute, Bronnon faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing for the conspiracy and mail fraud counts and up to 70 years for the use of fire in commission of a felony violations.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.           

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, National Insurance Crime Bureau and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice and K.P. Kennedy Gates. 

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                BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal grand jury returned a 40-count indictment on May 2, 2018, charging 12 individuals with federal violations related to an insurance fraud scheme in the  Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.

               According to the indictment, beginning in 2011, Patrick Wayne Bronnon, and others, began executing a scheme to defraud various insurance companies through fraudulent claims on homes and vehicles.  The indictment alleges Bronnon, or co-defendant Glenn Etienne, would identify a low value property and purchase it through a co-defendant straw purchaser.  On several occasions, Bronnon or Etienne would provide the straw purchaser with the funds for the down payment and initial insurance premium. Within a couple of weeks, Bronnon or an associate would intentionally damage the home, typically by fire or water, in order to collect insurance proceeds.  In total, nine fraudulent fire claims, three fraudulent water damage claims, and two fraudulent theft claims were filed with various insurance companies on nine different addresses, totaling approximately $1.7 million in fraudulent payments. The properties were located in Port Arthur, Port Neches, Beaumont, and Sugarland, Texas.  Those charged in the indictment are:

Patrick Wayne Bronnon, 49, of Groves, Texas;

Glenn Dell Etienne, 50, of Groves;

Geraldine Weldon Joseph, 67, of Port Arthur;

Morris Broussard, 51, of Houston;

Keisha Windon Lewis, 44, of Port Arthur;

Helene Williams Calcote, 41, of Groves;

Cynthia Lynn Banion, 45, of Houston;

Earnest Hamilton, 79, of Richmond;

Nathaniel Joseph Chevalier, 40, of Nederland;

Rodric Ledae Wallace, 49, of Nederland; and

Riley Moss Reed, 63, of Port Arthur

                Under federal statutes, if convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison. 

                This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, National Insurance Crime Bureau and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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