A federal jury found Vanessa Motta, Jason F. Giles, their law firms, and Diamanike F. Stalbert guilty on all charges related to a staged automobile collision scheme, according to a March 20 announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice Criminal Division.
The case is significant because it exposed a long-running operation that defrauded insurance companies and commercial trucking firms through fraudulent lawsuits and staged accidents, affecting policyholders across Louisiana.
Court documents show that from December 2011 to December 2024, Motta, Giles, their respective law firms (Motta Law LLC and The King Firm LLC), and others orchestrated purposeful collisions with large commercial vehicles. They recruited passengers for these crashes—sometimes encouraging unnecessary medical procedures—to inflate insurance settlements. The scheme also involved individuals known as “slammers,” who caused the accidents; “spotters,” who assisted with getaways; and recruiters like Stalbert.
The jury convicted Motta, Motta Law LLC, Giles, and The King Firm LLC of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. Stalbert was found guilty of making false statements to federal agents but acquitted on conspiracy charges. The verdict included findings that Motta attempted to pay a witness to move abroad to avoid cooperating with authorities while Giles secretly recorded an individual in an attempt to create exculpatory evidence.
“Today’s verdict was the culmination of a lengthy investigation that amassed overwhelming evidence proving the defendants’ roles in a years-long scheme to defraud, as well as their subsequent efforts to obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. “MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, and THE KING FIRM successfully launched a fraudulent scheme of epic proportions that both victimized the judicial system, and exploited the auto insurance industry, all to enrich themselves with millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains.” Simpson added: “This prosecution, and today’s verdict, makes clear that no one is above the law. I commend the trial team, and our law enforcement partners for their relentless and meticulous work to shine a light on this scourge and hold those involved responsible.”
Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office said: “The defendants in this case pursued personal fortune through lies and deception, that potentially impacted every auto insurance policy holder in Louisiana.” He continued: “The FBI along with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission have worked for the last seven years to uncover every instance of fraud… We will continue that pursuit as long as it takes.”
Sentencing is scheduled for July 2026 before Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter: Motta and her firm on July 7; Giles and his firm on July 14; Stalbert on July 21. Convictions carry maximum penalties ranging from five years for false statements up to twenty years for mail fraud or conspiracy counts per charge.
Including this trial outcome, sixty-three people have been charged so far in connection with staged collisions in New Orleans.
