Ryan J. Harris, also known as "Red," has pled guilty to charges related to a scheme involving staged automobile collisions in New Orleans. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Harris, aged 36, admitted guilt before United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter.

Harris faced a three-count superseding bill of information. Count One involved conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud; Count Two was for wire fraud; and Count Three charged him with causing death through the use of a firearm.

Court documents reveal that Harris acted as a "slammer" in orchestrated collisions with commercial vehicles in the New Orleans area. After these incidents, passengers would falsely claim to be drivers and file fraudulent insurance claims. Harris referred these individuals to attorneys who were part of the scheme, filing false lawsuits on their behalf.

Harris also admitted involvement in the murder of Cornelius Garrison, a cooperating federal witness who was shot outside his home on September 22, 2020.

For Counts One and Two, Harris faces up to 20 years imprisonment per count, fines up to $250,000 or twice the financial gain or loss involved, supervised release terms, and mandatory fees. For Count Three, he could face life imprisonment or death.

A plea agreement proposes a total sentence of 35 years in prison for Harris under Rule 11(c)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Sentencing is set for September 23, 2025.

The case involves collaboration between multiple agencies including the FBI New Orleans Field Office and local law enforcement. Prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew R. Payne and Brian M. Klebba among others from both local offices and the Department of Justice's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.