Former horsemen’s association director pleads guilty

Less than a week before he was scheduled to go to trial, Sean Alfortish has pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to rig elections within the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, then helping himself to funds controlled by the agency. Alfortish on Wednesday admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, health care fraud and identification document fraud. The Times-Picayune reports Alfortish admitted he created a scheme to get re-elected as the head of the nonprofit in 2008 after his first term as president was marred by charges of financial mismanagement. Alfortish faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon is on Dec. 15. Alfortish is the last defendant remaining, after the recent plea of Mona Hebert Romero, the group’s former executive director. Romero admitted to conspiring to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and fraud in connection with identification documents, court records show. She is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 27. A 29-count indictment handed up in November 2010 charged that Romero and Alfortish lived it up on the association’s money. Alfortish received no salary as president, but collected $116,000 as director of the association’s workers’ compensation and simulcasting operations, on top of his regular jobs as a lawyer and, formerly, a Kenner magistrate. For a Business Report story about the scandal within the association, click here.