Man who crashed Bugatti into a lake is headed to federal prison

Gilbert Harrison prepares to retrieve a Bugatti Veyron from the water in La Marque in 2009. Gilbert Harrison prepares to retrieve a Bugatti Veyron from the water in La Marque in 2009. Photo: Chris Paschenko, Galveston County Daily News Photo: Chris Paschenko, Galveston County Daily News Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Man who crashed Bugatti into a lake is headed to federal prison 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Lufkin's Andy House, the exotic car salvage yard owner who crashed his million-dollar Bugatti into a lake in the La Marque area, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to insurance fraud.

According to information presented in court, in October 2009, House bought a 2006 Bugatti Veyron for $1 million and insured the vehicle for $2.2 million. On Nov. 11, 2009, House drove the sports car into Gulf Bay. He left the car running in the water and that resulted in the engine being flooded with saltwater, destroying the vehicle.

House said on the claim that he swerved into the water on Nov. 12 after he was reaching for his cell phone. The insurers accepted the claim, but little did he know that another motorist filmed the whole scene and posted the video on YouTube.

House must pay back the settlement, about $600,000, and will have to serve three years of supervised release after he gets out of prison.