By KERI CHAMPION

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE-A LaPlace resident has turned himself in for insurance fraud after the Louisiana State Police issued a warrant on Judge Mary Hotard Becnel’ s order for his arrest.

The warrant was issued on November 21 after an investigation revealed that Louis, F. Ford, 44, of LaPlace, had been altering receipts for living expenses and filing fraudulent claims on his homeowner’s insurance policy.

&#8220Ford would create his own receipts for hotel stays and send them to the insurance company to reimburse him for the rooms,” said Trooper Will Pike of the Insurance Fraud Unit.

While Ford was entitled to some damages from the storm, the altered and copied receipts would have increased his settlement by $9,404.23.

&#8220It is true that Ford sustained some damage caused by the winds and rain but, it was not nearly as significant as he had led the insurance company to believe,” Pike said.

Ford was arrested on November 28 and booked with ten counts of insurance fraud. His bond was set at $10,000 by Judge Becnel.