The US Department of Justice accused a New Orleans stuntwoman-turned-lawyer of staging car accidents to file fraudulent insurance claims.
Vanessa Motta, 43, is one of eight people indicted in the Louisiana scheme. The defendants, including Motta’s husband and professional drivers, allegedly collided with 18-wheelers and fled the scene.
The drivers who crashed into the trucks were referred to as “slammers.” According to prosecutors, a getaway driver would then assist the “slammer” in making his escape.
The “slammer’s” passengers would tell officials that they were responsible for driving the vehicle that caused the car accident. Other conspirators would testify and blame the truck drivers for the collisions.
According to local news reports, Motta pleaded not guilty last month after being charged with filing fraudulent claims.
Sean Toomey, the woman’s attorney, claimed his client was a victim of the alleged scheme.
“If these accidents were staged, my client was a victim who was exploited by others,” he told a Louisiana court.
Motta is also a lawyer. According to the website of her law firm, Motta Law LLC, she began practicing law in 2017. Her law license has since been suspended, and she faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, obstructing justice, and witness tampering.
Motta’s stunt work includes appearances in Jurassic World, Logan, Furious 7, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
The scheme eventually turned deadly, according to police. According to police, Ryan “Red” Harris, who is accused of participating in the crashes, shot his former crime partner in order to prevent him from testifying about the crimes. The man, who died in 2020, had been cooperating with federal agents in an investigation.
One of the female defendants claimed she was dating the accused murderer at the time, but he threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the alleged murder.
Motta is currently free awaiting trial on a $250,000 bond.
