Ryan J. Harris, Mail and Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2024

NEW ORLEANS, LA – In a shocking turn of events, a superseding indictment has been unsealed charging Ryan J. Harris, a/k/a ‘Red,’ and seven others with offenses in connection with staged automobile collisions in the New Orleans area. The indictment, which was returned on Friday, December 6, 2024, and unsealed on Monday, December 9, 2024, charges Harris, Sean D. Alfortish, Vanessa Motta, Jason F. Giles, Leon M. Parker, Diaminike F. Stalbert, Carl Morgan, and Timara N. Lawrence with Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, Obstruction of Justice, Witness Tampering, and other federal offenses.

According to the superseding indictment, Harris and the other defendants were members of a conspiracy that engaged in a fraud scheme, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and other crimes. The members of the conspiracy intentionally staged automobile collisions in the New Orleans metropolitan area and submitted fraudulent insurance claims based on the staged collisions. The members of the conspiracy also filed fraudulent lawsuits in state and federal court based on the staged automobile collisions.

The indictment alleges that Harris, Alfortish, Motta, Giles, Morgan, Parker, Stalbert, and Lawrence, along with others, participated in a scheme in which they intentionally staged automobile collisions with other vehicles in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The scheme included individuals who rode in automobiles and caused the staged collisions.

The superseding indictment charges Harris and the other defendants with Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, Obstruction of Justice, Witness Tampering, and other federal offenses. The indictment also charges the law firms Motta Law, LLC and The King Firm, LLC with Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud.

Harris, who is 36 years old and resides in New Orleans, is charged with Witness Tampering through Murder, Retaliation Against a Witness through Murder, and Causing Death through Use of a Firearm. The indictment alleges that Harris was involved in the murder of a witness in an attempt to prevent the witness from testifying against him and the other defendants.

The superseding indictment was unsealed after Parker was arrested by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. An investigation by the FBI led to the charges being filed against Harris and the other defendants.

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