FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2019
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Issues Cease and Desist Orders to Scholars First School Bus Owners and Employees
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced that the owners and an employee of Scholars First, LLC, a provider of bus transportation services to several New Orleans area charter schools, have been served by Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) Fraud Division investigators with cease and desist (C&D) orders for their roles in the fraudulent or misrepresented submission of multiple altered insurance documents including certificate of insurance documents and Louisiana auto insurance identification cards.
Fraud Division investigators moved quickly to investigate the circumstances brought to the attention of the LDI via media reports and as a result of a fraud complaint filed in late March. Insurance Commissioner Donelon stated “the recklessness of this action by parties who are charged with the care of children is inexcusable and the LDI stands ready to support our law enforcement partners as this investigation moves forward.”
Scholars First, LLC is a Louisiana Limited Liability Company that is owned/managed by Melvin Williams of Gonzales, LA and Jeramy Jackson of New Orleans, LA. Additionally an employee of Scholars First, Trenice Jupiter of Slidell, LA has also been served as her name and mobile phone number appears in four of these fraudulent documents as the representative of two different licensed commercial insurance agencies. Jupiter is not a licensed insurance producer in Louisiana or any other state or territory of the United States.
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon urges consumers who may have information about any insurance related transaction to call the Department of Insurance Fraud Division at 225-342-4956 or 1-800-259-5300. If callers do not want their names used, they can request that their involvement be kept confidential.
About the Louisiana Department of Insurance: The Louisiana Department of Insurance works to improve competition in the state’s insurance market while assisting individuals and businesses with the information and resources they need to be informed consumers of insurance. As a regulator, the LDI enforces the laws that provide a fair and stable marketplace and makes certain that insurers comply with the laws in place to protect policyholders. You can contact the LDI by calling 1-800-259-5300 or visiting www.ldi.la.gov.