Sean Alfortish, a disbarred attorney and a former president of the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, was found guilty by a New Orleans jury on multiple charges involving a lengthy scheme to defraud trucking and insurance companies with false claims from staged accidents.
On Sept. 3, Alfortish was hit with verdicts for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of witness tampering. According to court records and a United States Attorney's Office release, the jury hung on charges against Alfortish and Leon Parker relating to the murder of Cornelius "Slim" Garrison III, a cooperating witness for the FBI. U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter declared a mistrial on those counts.
According to court records, including five days of jury deliberations, the case was in trial for 19 days.
A U. S. Attorney release says Aflortish faces a statutory sentence of 90 years. A sentencing date is not yet shown as scheduled on the federal court's online docket.
Ryan “Red" Harris entered a guilty plea in January 2025 for the slaying of Garrison and is in prison. Alfortish and Parker can be tried again on the homicide-related charges. According to a nola.com report, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Payne asked Vitter to schedule a hearing to set another trial date for that purpose. Alfortish and Parker were ordered to jail pending sentencing.
According to Equibase, Alfortish remained involved in Louisiana horse racing as recently as late 2024. That year, horses trained by Alfortish engaged in 39 starts with earnings of $101,160.
Alfortish avoided a jury trial in 2011 when he pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, identity fraud, and health-care fraud in connection with an HBPA election. He served as president of the horsemen's group from 2005 to 2010. Alfortish was charged along with Mona Romero, formerly executive director of the Louisiana HBPA, in a 29-count indictment and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He regained his trainer's license after being released from custody.
At its inception, the fake wrecks case involved offenses dating back nine years with 63 defendants, including two New Orleans law firms. Dozens entered guilty pleas before the Alfortish trial.
Nola.com reported that Alfortish slumped and held his face in one hand as Vitter read “guilty” from the verdict form on each fraud count.
“Today’s verdict is an important step towards justice for the victims of this scheme,” said U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. “Alfortish and Parker exploited the courts to benefit themselves and their confederates. The jury’s verdict demonstrates the dedication of the Department of Justice to preserving the integrity of our justice system.”
