Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A former New Orleans police officer is facing six charges related to fraud and bribery after allegedly submitting a false insurance claim in 2019.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Christian Conrad Claus, 55, was a New Orleans Police Department officer that allegedly “conspired with a New Orleans homeowner and a Nevada art appraiser to submit a fraudulent insurance claim on the homeowner’s property.”
In the claim, it was reported that the homeowner and restauranteur, Fouad K. Zeton, allegedly had “valuable” paintings stolen from his home. However, the paintings were not stolen or worth any value, prosecutors argued.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Zeton agreed with the plan in exchange for Claus to allegedly used his position as an NOPD officer to “further the scheme.” It was mentioned that Zeton would allegedly “share the insurance proceeds with Claus” and help Claus “with assistance in obtaining employment positions.”
The U.S. attorney’s office reported that Claus’ charges include mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiring to commit those crimes, use of a facility in facility commerce in aid of bribery, making a false statement to a federal agent and conspiracy to commit the crime.
Additionally, Zeton and the home appraiser pled guilty and are waiting to be sentenced.
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