A disbarred attorney is set to face trial in August in connection with a wide-ranging staged wrecks scheme and the murder of a federal witness cooperating in the case.
Sean Alfortish is facing one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of obstruction of justice, and four counts of witness tampering.
He was also indicted on conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the scheme.
Alfortish is the fiancé of Vanessa Motta, who is a co-defendant in the scheme.
This is not Alfortish’s first time facing criminal charges.
In 2011, he was disbarred and served prison time in connection with a rigged election with the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association in an effort to remain on the board.
After serving his jail sentence, he allegedly became part of the staged wrecks scheme around 2017 after he was introduced to the man he’s accused of conspiring to kill, Cornelius Garrison.
Alfortish is accused of using Motta’s firm to stage wrecks and file fraudulent insurance claims.
When Alfortish and Motta found out Garrison was cooperating in a federal investigation in 2019, they were accused of offering to move him out of the country in an effort to stop his cooperation.
An FBI agent testified in court that a burner phone was used in the killing of Garrison and was bought by Ryan J. Harris, who pleaded guilty in connection with the scheme.
A second burner phone was also used during the crime, and whoever had both was connected to the location where the killing happened, according to the FBI agent.
Leon Parker, the alleged shooter in Garrison’s death, referred to himself as Harris’ stepdad, and reportedly searched “Cornelius Garrett” on Google days before the killing.
After the killing, Parker is accused of going to Kenner after the homicide happened. The FBI agent testified that Alfortish lived in Kenner at the time, and Parker even searched Alfortish on Google days after the homicide.
Federal Judge Wendy Vitter has separated Alfortish and Parker’s trials, and Garrison’s murder is not expected to be mentioned in Motta’s trial, starting next week.
Alfortish has pleaded not guilty and has been held without bond since his arrest.
READ MORE:Who is Sean Alfortish? Disbarred attorney linked to New Orleans staged wrecks scheme
