Warrants for the arrest of 26 people were issued Wednesday in connection with an automobile insurance fraud ring, officials said.

A 16-month investigation revealed that the people in the alleged crime circle staged crashes and filed false insurance claims, Georgia Department of Insurance spokesman Glenn Allen said in a news release.

Payouts from 12 companies involved in more than 50 suspicious claims totaled $155,925, Allen said.

The crackdown on insurance fraud by the office of Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens brings 326 charges against these suspects listed by hometown:

Albany: Kenya N. Daniels, 24

Americus: Maurice Young, 34

Buena Vista: Deandra R. Nelson, 26

Columbus: Timothy M. Lewis, 25; Rodney R. Lockett, 25; Angelia E. Jones, 49; Emory C. Stevens Jr., 27; Mackery A. Strong, 28

Cuthbert: Deidra S. Holmes, 35

East Point: Shalawn L. Williams, 42

Lumpkin:  Kamesha Lockett, 23; Jason D. Martain, 23; Moses Jackson, 32; Safia A. Streetman, 40; Corderro D. Thomas, 24; Devonta Waddy, 24; Annie P. Wright, 56

Richland: Leroy L. Johnson, 49; Terry Lyn Jones Johnson, 45; Chandra Michelle Jones, 44; Nekito Jones, 40; Devonta D. Josey, 23; Jasmine D. Pollard, 24; KeShawn Pollard, 23

St. Marys: Brittany C. Green, 28

Phenix City, Ala.: Tremaine J. Johnson, 34

The 326 charges range from fraud and theft by deception to racketeering and exploitation of an elder person, Allen said.

“Also, the suspects allegedly used multiple aliases and stole identities on the insurance claims to avoid detection by insurers,” Allen said. “Fraud Investigators allege that the ring attempted to get payouts totaling more than $500,000.”

The Muscogee County District Attorney's office is prosecuting the case.

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Bob Banks is an actor, known for Supercool (2021), Outer Banks (2020), The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017), Antwone Fisher (2002), Love Crimes (1992), Midnight Edition (1993), Daddy’s Little Girls (2007) Selma, Lord, Selma (1999), In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) (1991-1993), and I’ll Fly Away (TV Series) (1991-1992). Bob is an accomplished Voice Over (VO) Actor and lives in Atlanta, GA.

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Corbin Spencer, right, field director of New Georgia Project and volunteer Rodney King, left, help Rueke Uyunwa register to vote. The influential group is shutting down after more than a decade. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2017)

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