NEW ORLEANS — Attorneys Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles were convicted Friday on multiple federal charges related to a scheme involving staged car accidents, and were immediately taken into custody, according to reports from the courtroom. U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter ordered both attorneys detained pending sentencing, rejecting arguments from their legal teams that they posed no flight risk.
The convictions follow a three-week trial centered on allegations that Motta and Giles profited from a conspiracy in which individuals intentionally caused collisions with tractor-trailers, allowing the attorneys to pursue insurance payouts. Prosecutors argued the scheme involved recruiting “slammers” to stage the accidents.
Giles was found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, multiple counts of mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. Motta faced similar charges, with a guilty verdict on conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. A third defendant, Diaminike Stalbert, was found not guilty of conspiracy but convicted of making false statements to federal agents.
The King Firm and Motta Law LLC, the law firms associated with Giles and Motta respectively, were also found guilty of multiple charges including mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.
During the trial, witnesses including former “slammers” Damian Labeaud and Ryan Harris testified about being recruited and paid to orchestrate the crashes, according to reporting from WWL-TV. Disbarred attorney Sean Alfortish and Danny Patrick Keating Jr., who pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators, also provided testimony.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson characterized the case as “an example of the worst of the worst of what lawyers can be but shouldn’t be,” and a “glaring example of what happens when lawyers push the boundaries of the code of ethics and the code of responsibility.”
The courtroom was reportedly filled with emotion following the verdict. According to WVUE, Motta’s mother fainted, prompting a response from medical personnel, and Motta herself became visibly distressed.
In arguing against detention, Motta’s attorney emphasized her family ties and asserted she was not a flight risk. Judge Vitter rejected this argument, citing prior violations of bond conditions and expressing skepticism about Motta’s awareness of the scheme’s extent. Giles’ attorney requested he be allowed to remain free to finalize business affairs, but Vitter denied the request, stating evidence demonstrated he was aware of the investigation and attempted to influence it.
Stalbert’s attorney argued her conviction for making false statements was limited to comments made to the FBI and did not pose a threat to the community. Judge Vitter allowed Stalbert to be released under certain conditions.
Lynda Van Davis, Giles’ attorney, expressed disappointment with the verdict, while acknowledging the harm caused by the staged accidents. “Let’s just face it. What the stagers and the slammers were doing was a horrible thing, absolutely horrible, and I think everyone thought that those who were involved needed to be punished,” Davis said. “The difference for me is that I do not believe my client knew what was happening in those cases.”
Jeff Brockton, Motta’s partner, stated outside the courthouse that he agreed with the verdict and was focused on his family’s future. “I’m worried more about my daughter at this moment. We have a person that has committed a crime, clearly has committed a crime, and the jury found her guilty,” Brockton said.
Sentencing dates have been set for July 7 for Motta and Motta Law LLC, July 14 for Giles and The King Firm, and July 21 for Stalbert.
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