Boater allegedly sank boat, lied to enforcement agents
Thibodaux Man Arrested For Alleged Insurance Fraud
A Thibodaux man was arrested March 13 and booked with allegedly attempting to commit insurance fraud in connection with a boating accident in Concordia Parish, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported today (March 23).
Thirty-year-old Joshua Keith Soileau was booked into the Concordia Parish jail with filing false public records, and was cited him for gross littering and criminal mischief.
Soileau allegedly stated to LDWF agents that he had tied his boat up to a tree along the Red River the evening of March 12 and returned to the boat the following morning to find it gone. Soileau allegedly also stated that he and his friends found several items floating that were in his boat, which led him to believe that the boat had sunk.
Based on the items recovered by Soileau, agents found evidence that led them to discover the boat was possibly sunk on purpose. After interviewing Soileau a second time, he allegedly admitted to sinking his boat because he wanted to purchase a new one with insurance money.
Soileau was then arrested and booked into the Concordia Parish Jail.
Filing false public records carries a fine up to $5,000, or up to five years in jail with or without hard labor or both. Gross littering carries a fine up to $100 and eight hours of community service in a litter abatement work program as approved by the court. Criminal mischief carries a fine up to $500, up to six months in jail or both.