"Highway Robbery": Personal Injury Attorneys Convicted in Staged Crash Scheme NEW ORLEANS — A federal jury has convicted personal injury attorneys Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles on all charges related to a scheme involving staged collisions with 18-wheelers, according to a case first uncovered by WWL Louisiana. The trial, which concluded just over two weeks ago, revealed that the attorneys paid individuals to intentionally crash into tractor-trailers to file lawsuits and secure larger settlements. A third defendant, Diaminike Stalbert, was found guilty of making false statements but was cleared of a conspiracy charge. Prosecutors alleged that Motta and Giles orchestrated a scheme where so-called “slammers” were recruited to stage crashes, enabling the attorneys to exploit legal loopholes and maximize financial gains. The attorneys admitted the existence of the scheme but claimed they were unaware of its full extent. The convictions included charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, multiple mail fraud counts, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering for Motta and her law firm. Testimony during the trial included accounts from individuals who participated in the scheme. Damian Labeaud and Ryan Harris, referred to as “slammers,” described being paid to stage collisions. Danny Patrick Keating Jr., who pleaded guilty and testified against the defendants, and disbarred attorney Sean Alfortish, a former magistrate, also provided critical evidence. An FBI special agent and a lawyer familiar with the scheme were among the witnesses. Leon “Chunky” Parker and Cornelius Garrison III, another slammer who had been cooperating with the FBI before his 2020 murder, were central to the case. Prosecutors noted that Garrison’s death temporarily slowed the pace of indictments.#vanessa_motta #jason_giles #diaminike_stalbert #operation_sideswipe #wwl_louisiana
New Orleans Attorneys Convicted in Staged Wreck Scheme A jury has convicted two prominent New Orleans attorneys, Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles, on all charges related to a sprawling scheme involving staged car accidents and insurance fraud. The verdict, delivered after nearly three weeks of intense testimony, marks a significant legal milestone in a case that has drawn national attention for its alleged coordination between attorneys, drivers, and insurance fraud rings. Motta was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of obstruction of justice, and four counts of witness tampering. Her law firm was also convicted of the same charges. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7 at 9 a.m. Giles faced one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, five counts of obstruction of justice, and six counts of witness tampering. His firm was similarly convicted. Giles’ sentencing is set for July 14 at 9 a.m. Both attorneys were detained following the verdict. The trial revealed a complex web of criminal activity, with prosecutors arguing that Motta and Giles orchestrated a years-long scheme to stage accidents and manipulate insurance claims. Judge Wendy Vitter, who presided over the case, stated that the jury found "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Giles knew he was under investigation, citing text messages and recorded conversations with witnesses. She also emphasized that the jury determined Motta was complicit in the death of a key witness, Cornelius Garrison, and that evidence of her involvement would be presented in a second trial scheduled for August. The courtroom erupted in chaos during the proceedings as Motta’s mother fainted after the verdict.#vanessa_motta #jason_giles #judge_wendy_vitter #us_attorney_michael_simpson #law_firm_king
Federal Jury Convicts New Orleans Attorneys in Staged 18-Wheeler Crash Fraud Trial A federal jury convicted prominent New Orleans injury attorneys Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles on multiple charges related to an alleged scheme involving staged truck accidents. The verdict, delivered on Friday, found both attorneys guilty of orchestrating fraudulent lawsuits to secure insurance payouts. Following the guilty verdicts, Motta and Giles were remanded to federal custody while awaiting sentencing. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants participated in a scheme where individuals, referred to as “slammers,” intentionally crashed into 18-wheelers to file lawsuits and claim insurance money. The case centered on how Motta and Giles profited from these incidents through their law practices. U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter announced the verdict after jurors deliberated for over five hours. Giles was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. Motta faced similar charges, including conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. Other entities, including Stalbert and The King Firm, were also found guilty of various charges, including mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors emphasized that the case was not victimless, highlighting that truck drivers who lost their jobs and Louisiana drivers who pay higher insurance rates were among the affected parties. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson described the case as an example of lawyers “pushing the boundaries of the code of ethics and the code of responsibility.” The courtroom became emotional after the verdict.#vanessa_motta #jason_giles #wendy_vitter #the_king_firm #stalbert
Federal witness testifies in New Orleans staged 18-wheeler crash fraud trial An inmate who pleaded guilty in a murder plot took the witness stand Monday in a federal trial involving staged 18-wheeler accidents in New Orleans, now in its third week. Personal injury attorneys Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles, along with their law firms and alleged co-conspirator Diaminike Stalbert, face multiple fraud-related charges. Prosecutors allege they participated in schemes involving intentional car crashes into 18-wheelers and fraudulent lawsuits. Ryan Harris, an inmate serving a 35-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to a murder connected to the case, testified for over two hours about the operations of personal injury attorneys and the financial aspects of the schemes. Harris described how he began intentionally crashing cars into 18-wheelers around 2017, introduced to the scheme by Cornelius Garrison. He stated that Motta represented him early on and that he had dealings with the King Law Firm, where Jason Giles worked. Harris later operated independently, staging car-on-car crashes, recruiting other drivers, and directing their claims to Motta. He informed Motta of his decision to work separately, saying she advised him to ensure the crashes were severe to maximize insurance payouts. Harris recounted that Motta occasionally expressed frustration with some participants for mishandling crashes, telling her, “There’s going to be bad ones...anything could happen. It was all fraud.” He also mentioned that he continued submitting cases to Motta until 2023 and received kickback checks from her fiancé, Sean Alfortish, at the time. In early 2025, Harris pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in the murder of Cornelius Garrison, who was shot and killed in 2020 during a probe into staged wrecks.#new_orleans #vanessa_motta #jason_giles #federal_witness #diaminike_stalbert
New Orleans Staged Wrecks Trial: Testimony of Ryan Harris Reveals Fraud Scheme Ryan Harris, a convicted fraudster who pleaded guilty to staging car crashes for insurance fraud, testified in federal court this week as part of the trial of Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles. Harris, serving a 40-year prison sentence, described how he worked with Motta, a former stuntwoman turned lawyer, and Giles, a partner at the King Firm, to orchestrate crashes involving large 18-wheelers and other vehicles. The scheme allegedly involved creating fake accidents, fabricating injuries, and submitting fraudulent insurance claims to collect millions in payouts. Harris admitted to staging wrecks for multiple individuals, including his cousin Shirley, Whalen Collins, Woneyesha Winchester, and Tiffany Turner. He claimed Motta coached him on how to manipulate crash scenarios, instructing him to exaggerate damage and injuries to align with the insurance policies of victims. Harris testified that Motta emphasized targeting companies like Liberty Mutual, which he said paid out generously for claims. He also described how Motta pressured him to undergo unnecessary medical procedures, such as an ablation surgery, to create credible injuries for the fraud scheme. The prosecution presented Harris as a key witness, highlighting his role in recruiting participants and coordinating crashes. Harris stated he and Cornelius Garrison, another slammer in the scheme who was murdered, staged over 80 crashes for Motta and her fiancé, Sean Alfortish. He admitted to acting as a spotter in some incidents, ensuring crashes were executed properly, while Garrison served as the primary driver in others. Harris also detailed how he and others met in conference rooms at Motta’s office to rehearse stories and damage reports, ensuring consistency in their accounts.#ryan_harris #vanessa_motta #jason_giles #king_firm #new_orleans_east
