Stuntwoman-Lawyer's $10M Scam Lands Her in Prison

Vanessa Motta, a 44-year-old former Hollywood stuntwoman, has been convicted in federal court for her involvement in a $10 million 'cash-for-crash' scheme. Motta, who had advertised herself as a personal injury lawyer, now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years, possibly remaining incarcerated until the age of 64. The scheme, which began around 2017 after Motta established her New Orleans firm, involved two teams: spotters who identified commercial vehicles and slammers who intentionally caused collisions.

Following the staged crashes, fake drivers and witnesses would fabricate claims against the truckers, with Motta and her associates profiting from the payouts. Motta's defense claimed ignorance, but a jury found her guilty, and the presiding judge dismissed her claims of naivety. Her conviction is part of the FBI's Operation Sideswipe, which has led to over 50 convictions since 2019. Motta faces disbarment if her appeal fails, and her opulent lifestyle, including a $1.4 million mansion, has been replaced by federal custody pending her sentencing in July.