Home / Crime and Justice / Lawyer Appeals Fraud Conviction After Witness Threats
Lawyer Appeals Fraud Conviction After Witness Threats
4 Apr
Summary
- Lawyer Vanessa Motta appeals fraud conviction citing witness threats.
- Motta was convicted of wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction, and tampering.
- Sentencing for Motta and co-defendant is scheduled for July.
Vanessa Motta, a New Orleans personal injury lawyer, is seeking a new trial following her conviction on fraud-related charges. A jury found Motta guilty on March 20 of wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction, and witness tampering after a three-week trial. Her legal team argues that prosecutorial threats concerning the murder of a federal witness, Cornelius Garrison, unfairly impacted her trial.
Motta's conviction stems from a scheme involving bogus lawsuits filed after staged car crashes with large trucks. Co-defendant Jason Giles was also convicted of wire fraud, obstruction, and conspiracy. Both are currently jailed pending their sentencing hearing, which U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter has scheduled for July.
Garrison, who had been cooperating with federal agents, was murdered in 2020. While Motta was not charged in his death, her fiance faces charges. Legal experts anticipate potentially significant prison terms for Motta and Giles.
Motta has alleged she was deceived by her former fiance, Sean Alfortish, a disbarred attorney who faces separate charges for orchestrating the fraud and conspiring to murder Garrison.
