Background: YouTube screengrab shows crime scene in Louisiana following the arrest of Cornelius Garrison, pictured inset. Garrison later became an informant who police say was murdered. Booking photo and background courtesy YouTube screengrab from WWLTV.
A couple in Louisiana has been arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of a government cooperator in a widespread fraud conspiracy involving staged car crashes with 18-wheeler trucks, getaway cars and attorneys on the take.
Ryan “Red” Harris, 35, and Jovanna Gardner, 39, of New Orleans and Chalmette, Louisiana, respectively, were indicted on May 3 but the charges were only unsealed in district court on Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors allege that once the couple learned their scheme to arrange fake car crashes and file phony insurance claims was being leaked to authorities through a co-conspirator turned witness, Cornelius Garrison, they murdered him.
Garrison, the Justice Department said, started “covertly cooperating” with federal agents in October 2019. He had worked for both Harris and Gardner in the scam and was serving as a recruiter as well as a “slammer” and a “spotter” for the couple, both positions required to orchestrate the high theatrics of the staged collisions.
“Spotters” like Garrison were able to keep an eye out for police while his cohorts would be on the road, intentionally causing a car crash — the so-called “slammers.” Gardner and Harris often shifted between one role or the other.
Prosecutors allege the criminal troupe would plant passengers in the cars or semi-trucks they would hit so those passengers could then attest to and file bogus insurance claims.
Once a crash occurred, slammers would flee and spotters could communicate if police were in pursuit or nearby. Sometimes, according to the indictment, spotters like Harris and Gardner would pretend to be witnesses and flag down commercial vehicles. Once someone pulled over to help, the duo would start blaming the hapless stranger for the collision.
The group allegedly used the services of local attorneys who were in on the scheme from 2015 until this year. The couple’s indictment did not name those attorneys.
As for Garrison, the Justice Department says he was killed by Harris and Gardener in September 2020 after he was federally indicted on conspiracy to commit mail fraud and other charges associated with the bogus wrecks the same week. He was indicted on Sept. 18 and dead by Sept. 22.
Garrison’s lifeless body was found inside of his home. He had been shot multiple times.
Harris and Gardner are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit witness tampering through murder conspiracy to retaliate against a witness through murder and more.
Both parties are represented by public defenders. Their attorneys did not immediately respond to request for comment Wednesday.
If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison apiece and three years of supervised released plus a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of their gains in the heists. That figure is not yet clear.
Harris and Gardner are only the latest defendants to be apprehended and charged in a massive federal probe of staged car crashes plaguing New Orleans that is being led by the Justice Department and FBI.
A review of public court records show Harris’ arraignment and detention hearing has been delayed until May 15.
The start of criminal trial has been ordered already, however. Barring any plea agreements that would preclude a trial, they will face a jury in Louisiana beginning July 15.
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