Former Louisiana HBPA President Accused of Murder Plot

A former president of the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association charged in a broad-ranging federal indictment with mail and wire fraud, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice in connection with staged motor vehicle collisions was accused of colluding in the murder of a witness. Sean D. Alfortish, 57, was named in a 10-count superseding indictment along with two New Orleans law firms and numerous individuals, according to a Dec. 9 release from the United States Attorney's Office. In offenses dating back nine years, 63 defendants have been charged in the federal probe. Prosecutors alleged "witness tampering through murder" in count eight of the indictment charging Ryan “Red" Harris, 36, with the slaying of Cornelius "Slim" Garrison. Harris has since pleaded guilty and is facing up to 35 years in prison. Harris said in a Jan. 16 court appearance Alfortish offered money for Garrison's killing. Alfortish has not been charged with the murder. The insurance fraud scheme allegedly involved "slammers" who knew they would be passengers in staged collisions or who intentionally collided with tractor-trailer trucks. Garrison, who was involved in the scheme, turned state's evidence in 2019 and was murdered before he could testify. This is not the first run-in with law enforcement for Alfortish. In 2011 he pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, identity fraud, and health-care fraud in connection with rigging the 2008 Louisiana HBPA election in which he won a second term of office. Also convicted were Mona Romero, a former executive director of the Louisiana HBPA, and Cindy Romero, the organization's former farm and field director. According to Equibase, Alfortish has remained involved in Louisiana horse racing. As recently as 2024 he trained horses with 39 starts and earnings of $101,160. Alfortish is behind bars pending trial. His attorney dropped a motion for his release after Alfortish was implicated in Garrison's murder, according to a story at The Paulick Report. He is facing double-digit years if convicted in the insurance fraud indictment. According to a document proffered to the court record by Harris and his attorney, "The meeting between Alfortish and (Leon "Chunky") Parker took place at Harris's automotive repair shop. During the meeting, Alfortish offered to pay Parker to murder Garrison. Following the meeting, Harris met with Parker multiple times and provided Parker with a 'burner' phone for Parker to use to commit the murder. … Harris knew that, by providing Parker with the 'burner' phone... he was assisting Alfortish and Parker's scheme to murder Garrison." Alfortish is also a party in pending New Mexico legal dispute involving multiple racetracks. That litigation began when the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association sued Sunray Gaming of New Mexico, asserting Sunray was violating or intended to violate the Interstate Horseracing Act by allowing interstate off-track wagering without first obtaining permission from the NMHA. Albuquerque Downs and Ruidoso Downs intervened in the case with various causes of actions against NMHA, Dr. Paul Jenson, and Alfortish. Byron King and Frank Angst contributed to this story.