Sean Alfortish(left) and Vanessa Motta
NEW ORLEANS — Federal prosecutors have moved into the heart of their case against a disbarred attorney and a man allegedly involved in a staged crash scheme, presenting testimony from an admitted conspirator, scheme participants, insurance attorneys, trucking lawyers and FBI agents to argue hat the men arranged and carried out a 2020 murder.
Sean Alfortish, the former attorney and Leon “Chunky” Parker have pleaded not guilty. The government alleges Alfortish financed the killing to stop Cornelius Garrison, who was cooperating with federal investigators, from exposing a long-running scheme involving deliberate collisions with 18-wheelers and fraudulent insurance claims, while Parker was the shooter. Both defendants say Ryan Harris — the cooperating participant who has pleaded guilty and admitted helping with the murder — was the actual gunman.
Garrison, described by witnesses as a “slammer,” allegedly recruited people for intentional vehicle collisions with commercial trucks. In the scheme, prosecutors say, a driver would strike or sideswipe a truck, leave the scene, and allow a passenger to claim he or she had been driving and injured. Lawyers would then pursue insurance claims and civil suits.
The FBI’s investigation, called Operation Sideswipe, uncovered the broader alleged scheme. Garrison began cooperating with authorities in 2019 and was shot outside his mother’s Gentilly home in September 2020, four days after he was named in a federal indictment, according to a report on the trial’s opening.
The case is the second major federal staged wreck trial this year. In March, a jury convicted personal injury attorneys Vanessa Motta, who also was Alfortish’s fiancée, and Jason Giles of charges including conspiracy, mail fraud, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
In opening statements August 12, prosecutor Matthew Payne called Garrison’s death an “assassination” and said the victim was shot 10 times to deter others from cooperating with the FBI. The government contends Alfortish learned of Garrison’s cooperation, sought someone to kill him and used Parker to carry out the plan.
Parker lawyer Stephen Haedicke told jurors Harris, not Parker, killed Garrison because Harris feared Garrison would implicate him. Alfortish lawyer Shaun Clarke acknowledged the crash-fraud scheme existed but denied his client paid for or requested a murder.
The prosecution’s first week established the alleged fraud scheme and Garrison’s role in it.
Garrison’s former lawyer, Claude Kelly, testified Garrison caused wrecks, put passengers in position to make claims and walked away from crash scenes. Kelly said Garrison had been frustrated about payments and became concerned after receiving a federal target letter and learning he would be deposed in a truck-crash matter.
Dr. Samantha Huber, the Orleans Parish coroner’s chief forensic pathologist, testified Garrison died of multiple gunshot wounds. She documented 10 gunshot wounds and ruled the death a homicide.
Garrison’s sister, Andrea Garrison Robertson, testified about her brother’s involvement in staged crashes and his death. Jurors also heard a 911 call in which Garrison’s mother reported he had been shot.
Waylon Collins testified he and his wife took part in a staged 2017 truck wreck driven by Harris. He said his wife received $90,000 from an approximately $400,000 insurance recovery, and he testified he understood the crash was fraudulent. Collins said Motta told him he was “too far in” to withdraw and alleged Alfortish coached him for a deposition and told him to lie. Collins has not been charged.
A woman testified Garrison sideswiped an 18-wheeler on Interstate 10, fled, and left her to move into the driver’s seat and falsely tell police she had been driving. She said she later signed papers at Motta’s office, underwent a procedure she believed was unnecessary to increase the claim’s value and encountered Alfortish there.
The government also used insurance and civil-litigation witnesses to show how the alleged collision scheme worked and to connect Parker and Garrison through particular claims.
State Farm investigator Jay Hebert testified the insurer paid a total-loss claim after Parker wrecked a Genesis SUV in December 2021 – more than a year after Garrison’s death – evidence prosecutors used to suggest that fraudulent activity continued.
Transportation defense lawyer Andrea Albert testified that a 2016 crash involving Parker and a U.S. Xpress truck appeared inconsistent with the claimed injuries and witness accounts. She said phone records showed calls among Parker, Garrison and a passenger around the collision, and she testified Parker ultimately settled his claim for $836,000 in February 2019.
The prosecution’s most consequential testimony so far came from Harris, who pleaded guilty in January 2025 to staged-crash charges and to aiding and abetting Garrison’s murder. He testified August 18 that he, Alfortish, Motta and Parker planned to kill Garrison after learning Garrison was cooperating with the FBI.
Harris told jurors Alfortish and Motta were angry about Garrison’s cooperation and asked whether he knew someone who could kill him. He said he identified Parker, arranged a meeting between Parker and Alfortish outside Harris’ Metairie automotive shop and later planned the killing with Parker.
According to Harris, Parker wore black clothing and gloves on the night of the killing. Harris testified he picked up Parker afterward and that Parker told him, “I killed him, I got him,” before disposing of the gun in a New Orleans East canal.
The defense attacked Harris’ credibility, emphasizing his plea agreement, his admitted role in the killing, other alleged fraud and evidence recovered from his former auto shop, including ammunition, an extended gun magazine and an empty Glock box. Harris denied being the shooter and said he was testifying truthfully.
On Wednesday, prosecutors presented additional evidence intended to corroborate Harris and connect the defendants to both the fraud and killing.
Garrison’s former girlfriend, Juanisha Winchester, testified she participated in a staged wreck involving a church van and an 18-wheeler. She said Garrison drove the van into the truck, and the episode introduced her to him. Winchester testified that Garrison appeared to make substantial money despite having no conventional job, and she described him as involved in staged accidents.
Jurors watched dash-camera footage of an April 2017 crash involving an Averitt Express 18-wheeler and a Toyota RAV4. A trucking-company lawyer testified the video showed the RAV4 suddenly move in front of the truck and stop, with a man later identified as Garrison exiting the vehicle and leaving in another car.
FBI Agent Joshua King testified that agents who searched Parker’s Slidell home found marijuana, drug paraphernalia and documents connected to Motta, but no guns or ammunition.
FBI Agent Blake Downing then presented cellphone-tower evidence concerning Harris and Parker during the 48 hours before the killing. Downing testified that, on the night Garrison was shot, Parker texted Harris, “Game on, Who Dat,” and Harris replied, “Pulling up in five.” Downing said Parker allegedly used a burner phone at the scene. Defense lawyers are expected to present their own cellphone expert.
