A federal jury has convicted two New Orleans attorneys on charges of masterminding a scheme that had drivers get into wrecks with 18-wheelers so they could sue for large cash sums.
Personal injury attorneys Jason Giles and Vanessa Motta were found guilty of multiple counts of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, witness tampering, and more.
U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter ordered the pair be taken into custody immediately and set Motta's sentencing for July 7. Giles is set to be sentenced on July 14.
The government said that Motta and Giles paid so-called "slammers" to take passengers in their cars, then crash into 18-wheelers on the highway. They would then split the proceeds of lawsuits filed against the trucking companies and their insurers.
Dozens of the alleged slammers turned state's evidence and testified for the prosecution.
One cooperating witness never got a chance to testify: Cornelius Garrison III. Garrison was an informant for the FBI, but was murdered in 2020. Prosecutors say Garrison was killed to keep him quiet, and to intimidate other potential witnesses.
Leon Parker and Motta's former fiancé, Sean Alfortish, are scheduled to go on trial in August for Garrison's murder.
