New Orleans businessman makes first court appearance after staged wrecks indictment [Video]

A New Orleans businessman who was charged this week in a wide-ranging probe into staged accidents across the city made his first court appearance Wednesday. Sean Alfortish is facing one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of obstruction of justice, and four counts of witness tampering.Federal Magistrate Judge Michael North reviewed Alfortish’s financial documents and granted a federal public offender to represent him. That person has not yet been chosen by the public defender’s office. He was handcuffed in court, wearing jeans and a blue dress shirt. No real action took place during the hearing Wednesday; however, he is expected to have a bond hearing and enter a plea in court on Friday. The FBI went to Alfortish’s home in Lake Vista early Monday to execute that arrest warrant, but Alfortish was not home.He turned himself over to authorities, and a judge ordered him to …