Con Man Charged In Attempt To Swindle Tom Petters’ Attorney

Another sidebar to the Petters securities fraud case: Tom Petters’ attorney Jon Hopeman was approached by a man who said he had connections and could make the case against Petters “go away” for $250,000. The man, Derrick Lee Riddle of Minneapolis, has at least four felony convictions. Hopeman called the FBI, and agents taped him on audio and video making the offer at Hopeman’s office. He now faces state charges of attempted theft by swindle and attempting to aid an offender (St. Paul Pioneer Press).