Aggrostats

With a road trooper’s discovery of a counterfeit Louisiana 60-day paper license plate in May 2007, The State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit alerted area law enforcement agencies and then began an investigation to determine the origin of the license plate. Within 45 days of posting the notice, more than 100 of the counterfeit 60-day license plates and corresponding registration markers were recovered in the Shreveport/Caddo Parish area. All of the counterfeit plates are numbered 10302495 through 10302497.

Details of arrest for McKnight: On Friday, July 1, 2007, Shreveport Police observed a 1997 Hyundai entering a parking lot while displaying a counterfeit 60-day license plate (#10302495). The officer stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Karen McKnight. McKnight told the officer she received the temporary license plate and corresponding registration marker from a small car dealership. The officer seized the counterfeit documents and forwarded them to the LSP Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit for further investigation. In a post Miranda interview, McKnight told Troopers she knew the documents were forgeries when she bought them (for $40) from a man she knew on the street. It was later determined the man she named was not associated with the counterfeit plates.

Details of arrest for Robinson: On Sunday, June 10, 2007, Shreveport Police observed a 1999 Chevrolet entering a parking lot while displaying a counterfeit 60-day license plate (#10302495). At the time of the stop, the vehicle was being operated by Robinson's boyfriend, Michael Wilson. Mr. Wilson told officers the vehicle belonged to Robinson and then gave them her cell phone number. During the subsequent cell phone conversation, Robinson told the officer she received the plate and corresponding registration marker from an area dealership. The officer seized the counterfeit documents and forwarded them to the LSP Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit for further investigation. In a post Miranda interview, Robinson told Troopers she knew the documents were forgeries when she bought them (for $20) from a man she knew. After learning the man's identify, Troopers determined he was killed in late 2007 during a confrontation with Shreveport Police.

Both women were booked in the Caddo Correctional Center. More arrests are expected as the interviews of others caught with the plates continue.

Arrested: Karen McKnight B/F, 40 YOA, Shreveport

Jamie A. Robinson B/F, 22 YOA, Shreveport

For More Information, Contact:
Trooper Doug Pierrelee
Louisiana State Police
Doug.Pierrelee@dps.la.gov
www.lsp.org