Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Dec. 13, 2024:
New guilty plea, charges for alleged members of the New Orleans staged-accident ring
The widespread staged-accident fraud scheme that occurred in New Orleans has a new guilty plea, as well as new charges filed against eight individuals and two law firms.
As reported since September 2020, dozens of individuals have been charged and have pled guilty in a scheme to intentionally cause collisions with tractor-trailers to defraud trucking companies and their insurers.
The scheme involved “slammers” who drove cars and intentionally caused the accidents, and “spotters” who drove getaway vehicles that allowed the slammers to flee the scene and evade detection by law enforcement. After slammers fled, a passenger would falsely claim to have been driving at the time of the collision, then lie as part of fraudulent insurance claims and lawsuits based on the staged collisions.
On Oct. 31, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced that Antoine Clark, 34, of New Orleans, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, bringing the total number of guilty pleas in the case to 49.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Clark and others conspired to fraudulently stage an automobile collision to obtain money. Clark, Shirley Harris and other co-conspirators intentionally collided with a tractor-trailer on April 24, 2017, on I-10 near the Crowder Boulevard exit in New Orleans. Clark and Harris made false police reports, filed a fraudulent lawsuit, lied during deposition testimony, and sought unnecessary medical treatment to further their fraudulent claims.
Clark faces up to 5 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
[Related: Staged accidents: Three more plead guilty, another sentenced]
Additionally, eight individuals and two law firms were charged in a 10-count superseding indictment unsealed Dec. 9. Those charged were: Ryan J. Harris, 36, of New Orleans; Sean D. Alfortish, 57, of New Orleans; Vanessa Motta, 43, of New Orleans; Jason F. Giles, 45, of New Orleans; Leon M. Parker, 51, of New Orleans; Diaminike F. Stalbert, 34, of Metairie; Carl Morgan, 66, of New Orleans; and Timara N. Lawrence, 34, of New Orleans; along with law firms Motta Law LLC and The King Firm LLC.
All 10 were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud. Giles and The King Firm were charged with Mail Fraud, Obstruction of Justice, and Witness Tampering. Alfortish, Motta, and Motta Law were charged with Obstruction of Justice and Witness Tampering; Stalbert with Making False Statements; and Harris with Witness Tampering through Murder, Retaliation Against a Witness Through Murder, and Causing Death Through Use of a Firearm.
According to the superseding indictment, the eight individuals and two law firms were all members of the conspiracy to stage accidents and fraudulaently collect on insurance claims. They also allegedly filed fraudulent lawsuits in state and federal court based on the staged collisions, and obstructed justice and made material misrepresentations in court cases to prevent detection of the scheme.
The indictment also alleges that in or around 2019, Alfortish, Motta, Motta Law, Giles and The King Firm became aware of the federal criminal investigation into the staged collision scheme and committed various acts of obstruction of justice and witness tampering as a cover-up attempt.
One individual who was also involved, Cornelius Garrison, began covertly cooperating with the government on the case. The superseding indictment alleges that on Sept. 22, 2020 -- four days after Garrison was charged for his role in the case -- Harris murdered Garrison, likewise aided and abetted the murder, to prevent him from cooperating with the federal government on the case.
Finally, Stalbert was also charged with lying to Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Including this superseding indictment, 63 defendants have now been charged in the staged-accident scheme.
[Related: After the worst happens: Nuclear-verdicts threat rolls downhil to owner-ops, small fleets]
Graves again selected to lead House transportation committee
The House Steering Committee on Thursday voted to allow Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) to continue serving as chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 119th Congress.
The Steering Committee last week approved a waiver to allow Graves to continue to hold the position. According to a Politico report, GOP rules prevent a member from leading or being ranking member of the same committee for three consecutive terms.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected by my Steering Committee colleagues to serve as Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman for the 119th Congress,” Graves said. “Over the last two years, our committee has worked hard to pass a number of major infrastructure bills, including the FAA Reauthorization Act and the Water Resources Development Act, and we have a golden opportunity to do much more in the next Congress.”
Graves added that T&I “will hit the ground running in 2025” and “will work with President Trump to advance his infrastructure priorities, developing the next long-term highway bill, and focusing on fixing the real infrastructure that moves people and goods safely and efficiently throughout our country.”
[Related: Trump II and the outlook for speed limiters, transparency, parking push]
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association congratulated Graves on his selection to again lead the committee.
Said OOIDA President Todd Spencer, “We have a strong relationship with Chairman Graves and look forward to working with him and his committee next year on a surface transportation reauthorization bill that includes pro-trucker priorities like expanded truck parking, fighting freight fraud, and allowing restroom access at shippers and receivers.”
The House Republican Conference still must vote to approve the Steering Committee’s recommendations.
