A federal jury in New Orleans has delivered a sweeping “guilty” verdict against two prominent local attorneys and their law firms, marking a major milestone in a sprawling investigation into staged highway accidents. Vanessa Motta, 44, and Jason F. Giles, 47, were convicted Friday of orchestrating a decade-long scheme that weaponized the local legal system to squeeze millions of dollars out of insurance companies.
The three-week trial, presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter, detailed a sophisticated criminal enterprise that ran from 2011 through late 2024. According to court evidence, the group targeted commercial trucking companies and 18-wheelers because of their large insurance policies.
The operation relied on “slammers”—people paid to intentionally cause collisions—and “spotters” who drove getaway cars. Recruiters like 35-year-old Diamanike F. Stalbert, who was also convicted on Friday, helped find passengers to fill the vehicles during these setup crashes…