On Monday, a new indictment was revealed, charging eight people and two law firms for their involvement in staging car accidents in the New Orleans area. The charges include conspiracy to commit fraud, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and even murder, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The U.S. Attorney's Office reports the defendants are allegedly part of a conspiracy that has been staging automobile collisions with the intent to file fraudulent insurance claims and lawsuits. The elaborate scheme, as outlined in the indictment, involved 'slammers' who would deliberately crash into vehicles, 'spotters' to assist in the getaway, and passengers who would falsely claim to have been at the wheel.
Individuals such as Ryan J. Harris, also known as "Red," and Sean D. Alfortish, are named as central figures in the operation, along with law firms Motta Law, LLC, and The King Firm, LLC. Harris, in particular, faces the most serious charges, including witness tampering through murder, as he is alleged to have killed an associate to prevent them from cooperating with authorities, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, when certain defendants became aware of the ongoing federal investigation in 2019, they allegedly engaged in obstructive activities, including witness manipulation and suggesting to key conspirators strategies to evade law enforcement. As part of a broader federal probe into staged automobile collisions in the New Orleans area, a total of sixty-three defendants have thus far been charged.
The indictment describes a methodical and ruthless scheme, but the Justice Department emphasized that an indictment is only a charge, and the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond reasonable doubt. If convicted, penalties range from fines and supervised release to, for Harris, a mandatory life sentence for counts involving murder, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The multi-agency effort to unravel this conspiracy was commended by the prosecutors, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew R. Payne and Brian M. Klebba, and Trial Attorney J. Ryan McLaren of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. The tactical collaboration between the FBI, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police proved pivotal in bringing these charges to light.
