Second indictment for two accused in New Orleans staged crash scheme murder

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Criminal Division of the Department of Justice has returned a second indictment in the case of the 2020 staged auto crash scheme in New Orleans.

They add that new allegations have been made against two of the nine defendants for their alleged participation in the homicide of a federal witness.

In the 13-count second superseding indictment, DOJ officials reported 57-year-old Sean D. Alfortish and 51-year-old Leon M. Parker allegedly conspired to murder federal witness Cornelius Garrison.

Court documents noted that during the scheme, Garrison had acted as a “slammer”, staging collisions with 18-wheelers and commercial vehicles. He was reportedly cooperating with the FBI when he was killed at his mother’s home on Sept. 22, 2020.

In January, Ryan J. Harris pleaded guilty to causing Garrison’s death by a firearm, in addition to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Additionally, DOJ officials said Alfortish, Parker, Vanessa Motta, Motta Law, LLC, Jason F. Giles, The King Law Firm, Diaminike F. Stalbert, Carl Morgan and Timara N. Lawrence are also charged with participating in the scheme to defraud insurance and commercial trucking companies through staged crashes.

List of counts

• Count 1:
  • Charges Alfortish, Motta, Motta Law, Giles, The King Firm, Morgan, Parker, Stalbert and Lawrence with conspiricy to commit mail and wire fraud. Maximum penalty is up to 20 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
• Count 2 & 3
  • Charges Giles, The King Firm, Alfortish, Motta and Motta Law with mail fraud. Maximum penalty is 20 years imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
• Count 4 & 6:
  • Charges Alfortish, Motta, Motta Law, Giles and The King Firm with obstruction of justice. maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
• Counts 5 & 7:
  • Charges Alfortish, Motta, Motta Law, Gile and The King Firm with witness tampering. Maximum penalty is 20 years imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
• Count 8:
  • Charges Stalbert with making false statements to a federal agent. If convicted she would face up to five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release.
• Count 9:
  • Charges Alfortish and Parker with conspiracy to commit witness tampering through murder of Garrison.
• Count 10:
  • Charges Alfortish and Parker with witness tampering through murder.
• Count 11:
  • Charges Alfortish and Parker with conspiracy to retaliate against a witness through murder.
• Count 12:
  • Charges Alfortish and Parker with retaliation against a witness through murder.
    • Charges 9 through 13 have a maximum penalty of life imprisonment up to a $250,000 fine and up to five years of supervised release.
• Count 13:
  • Charges Alfortish and Parker with causing Garrison’s death through the use of a firearm. Maximum penalty is any term of years including life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine and up to five years of supervised release.

In total, 63 defendants have been charged as a result of the federal probe into the staged crashes.

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