One of six men accused of staging approximately 50 car crashes in eastern Connecticut between 2011 and 2014 to collect insurance payouts pleaded guilty to wire fraud Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New Haven.

Frandy "Jimmy" Dugue, 39, of Norwich will be sentenced Nov. 1 by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer.

The crime carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 　　　　　　

According to the government, Dugue and five others conspired to defraud insurance companies, staging car crashes on remote roads where there were no witnesses other than the vehicle occupants, then filing false claims of property damage and bodily injury.

The payouts typically ranged from $10,000 to $30,000.

In pleading guilty, Dugue admitted to taking part in a staged crash in Killingly on Dec. 14, 2013.

He is a citizen of Haiti and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, according to the government, and has been free on bond since he was arrested on May 20.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Norwich Police Department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau, with the assistance of the Mohegan Tribal Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi M. Perry.