Insurance Agent Murders Two Fraud Investigators

Two Louisiana Department of Insurance fraud investigators have been shot and killed by an insurance agent during the course of their investigation against the agent.

On June 7, Rhett Jeansonne and Kim Sledge were shot and killed by insurance agent John Melvin Lavergne. The agent has had a history of fraudulent activity and he had been ordered to cease his business operations.

Immediately after the murders, Lavergne barricaded himself inside his Ville Platte, Louisiana agency, and he then turned the gun on himself.

In November, 2009, the Department of Insurance issued Lavergne a cease and desist order. The Department suspended his license for six months, and fined him $16,500. The actions came as a result of allegedly providing fraudulent proofs of insurance to the Lafayette Department of Motor Vehicles on several occasions.

Lavergne was issued a casualty, property and vehicle physical damage license for 24 years. Lavergne also had a life, accident and health license from 1973 to 2010.