Motta & Giles Convicted, Jailed, & Facing Decades in Prison

The Verdict: Guilty on All Core Counts

The jury convicted Motta and Giles on all major charges. They were found guilty of:

• Conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud
• Multiple counts of mail fraud
• Witness tampering

A third defendant, Diaminike Stalbert, was acquitted of conspiracy but convicted of making false statements to the FBI. She faces up to five years in prison and was released pending sentencing.

The verdict followed more than two weeks of testimony from cooperating witnesses, including "slammers" Damian Labeaud and Ryan Harris, and the only other lawyer charged in the scheme, Danny Patrick Keating Jr., who had already pleaded guilty. Prosecutors painted a picture of attorneys who knowingly paid street-level operatives to stage collisions with 18-wheelers, filled cars with passengers, and then filed fraudulent lawsuits to extract insurance payouts.

U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson, after the verdict, said Motta and Giles "abused their positions and violated their oaths as attorneys."

What Comes Next?

Both Motta and Giles remain in federal custody. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for:

• Vanessa Motta: July 7, 2026
• Jason Giles: July 14, 2026

Each faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the most serious counts. However, the final sentencing range, likely between 7 and 12 years, will depend heavily on the amount of money the court determines they fraudulently obtained.

Judge Vitter's decision to jail them immediately was driven by the witness tampering convictions and, in Motta's case, a previous violation of her bond conditions. The judge also noted that Motta's fiancé, disbarred attorney Sean Alfortish, awaits trial for the murder of cooperating witness Cornelius Garrison III, who was gunned down in 2020 after agreeing to testify. Alfortish's trial is scheduled for August.

Legal Limbo

The convictions have created a cascade of unresolved legal questions. Hundreds of personal injury cases filed by Motta and Giles, some of which were allegedly tainted by fraud, remain pending. Testimony at trial revealed that at least two cases involving Giles were stayed by a federal judge before his law license was suspended in December 2024. One of those involved Motta. Another of Motta's cases was transferred to a new attorney and settled out of court.

Raspanti explained the procedural reality: "That means everything is suspended, and any time limits are also suspended, usually. But going forward, what they're going to have to do is ultimately get them dismissed. If they can tie the fraud to the case, then the defense attorneys would have to try to get them dismissed."

He emphasized that legitimate cases should proceed. "The cases that aren't tainted by fraud—no matter who the attorney was—should go forward. And they'll be judged on their merits."

The Broader Repercussions: Who Else Is Liable?

The convictions of Motta and Giles are not the end of the story. The investigation remains active. Multiple attorneys who represented trucking and insurance companies testified during the trial that they had long suspected fraud in cases against Motta and Giles.

Notably, defense attorneys for Giles pointed out that two other lawyers who worked at The King Firm and received immunity were never called as witnesses. Giles's attorney, Lynda Van Davis-Greenstone, told reporters after the verdict, "I did find it interesting that lawyers who received immunity were not called as witnesses in this case. I found it very interesting that those who were convicted, entered guilty pleas of having staged the accidents did not come in and testify."

The implication is clear: the full scope of who knew what, and when, may not yet be fully public.

What This Means for Our Readers

This case is a powerful reminder of several truths:

1. Bad actors are prosecuted: When attorneys betray their oaths and exploit the legal system for personal gain, they are held accountable. The convictions and jail time send a clear message that fraud will not be tolerated
2. Legitimate cases remain valid: Not every case filed by these attorneys is fraudulent. The legal system will sort through the tainted cases and allow meritorious claims to proceed. Victims of real accidents should not be discouraged from seeking justice
3. Integrity matters: The overwhelming majority of personal injury attorneys are ethical professionals who work tirelessly to help real victims recover. The attorneys we partner with are among them; they are dedicated to legitimate advocacy, not manufactured crashes
4. Insurance costs are affected: This scheme contributed to Louisiana's notoriously high auto insurance rates. Holding fraudsters accountable helps protect honest policyholders

Motta and Giles will remain in federal custody until their sentencing in July. Sean Alfortish and Leon "Chunky" Parker await trial for the murder of Cornelius Garrison. And dozens of civil cases remain in legal limbo, awaiting review by judges and opposing counsel.

As Raspanti noted, the process will take time. But accountability, in criminal court at least, has arrived.

If you have been injured in a legitimate accident, you deserve an attorney who will fight for you with integrity and skill. The independent attorneys we connect you with are dedicated to helping real victims—no staged crashes required.