| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 7085 | 2014-11-24 | Troop I | Lafayette Business Man Arrested Following Disability Benefits Investigation |
TROOP I - NEWS RELEASE November 24, 2014 Lafayette Business Man Arrested Following Disability Benefits Investigation On December 28, 2013, the Louisiana State Police Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit received information that Alan Jude Bernard was receiving Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits alleging “Problems with his Back” and “Anxiety” while operating a siding business and an auto sales business from his residence. The investigation revealed that Bernard filed false statements to the Social Security Administration and the Louisiana Department of Disability Determination Services (DDS) when he applied for disability benefits. Bernard stated on those applications that, due to his disability, he was not working, received no income, and was not an owner or co-owner of a business. Bernard began receiving disability benefits as of February 2011. Assisted by the Louisiana Used Car Commission, investigators found that Bernard purchased twenty vehicles from an auto auction at a cost of approximately $53,000 and thirty-three vehicles from another auto auction at a cost of approximately $106,000. The Cooperative Disability Unit obtained purchase agreements and written statements from individuals who purchased vehicles from Bernard who further corroborated that Bernard consistently lowered the sales price on purchase receipts to fraudulently lower the tax liability upon vehicle registration. The investigation concluded that since February of 2011, Bernard falsely received over $83,000 in disability benefits and filed numerous fraudulent purchase agreements with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles to lower tax costs. On November 24, 2014, Bernard was arrested and transported to the Lafayette Parish Jail and booked on Felony Theft, Filing False Public Records, and First Degree Injuring Public Records. Contact Information: M/T Brooks David Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section – Troop I Office- (337) 262-1917 brooks.david@la.gov | |||
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