Letter of Apology » Dickie Scruggs

Balducci And Patterson Each Get Two Year Sentences

Dave Westheimer — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:31:40 +0000

Timothy Balducci and Steve Patterson were each sentenced to 24 months in prison on Friday by Senior US District Judge Neal Biggers in Oxford for their roles in the first Dickie Scruggs case involving the attempted bribery of Judge Henry Lackey. In both cases it was a downward departure from guidelines. Folo reports the real news here: AUSA Bob Norman needs both men to testify in person on March 23 before a grand jury in the ongoing investigation. Both men were ordered to report to prison on March 25 (Daily Journal, Clarion-Ledger).

Scruggs II: DeLaughter Indictment Unsealed

Dave Westheimer — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:57:53 +0000

Here (h/t folo). One count of conspiracy, one count of honest service mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice. The only other name on the indictment was Dickie Scruggs, whose named was removed in connection with his plea on Tuesday. However, count one names four other co-conspirators: Ed Peters, Joey Langston, Tim Balducci and Steve Patterson. Langston has already been sentenced to prison and Ed Peters has surrendered his law license and forfeited his proceeds, while Balducci and Patterson will be sentenced tomorrow for their roles in Scruggs I.

Scruggs II: Judge DeLaughter Indicted, Pleads Not Guilty

Dave Westheimer — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:32:39 +0000

The indictment is still sealed this morning but Judge Bobby DeLaughter was arraigned before US Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander in Oxford and pleaded not guilty to all charges. We do know that it’s a five-count indictment, Daily Journal says it will be unsealed later today. Tom Freeland at folo reports that DeLaughter was in leg irons and handcuffs. More: Clarion-Ledger.

Scruggs II: Dickie Scruggs Pleads Guilty, Gets Seven Year Sentence; More To Come

Dave Westheimer — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:32:59 +0000

Dickie Scruggs pleaded guilty yesterday in US District Court in Aberdeen to a one count information charging him with honest services mail fraud. He was immediately sentenced to seven years in prison by US District Judge Glen Davidson. The sentence will run concurrently with the five year sentence he is already serving in connection with Scruggs I.

It was announced that his name had been removed from the list of names in a sealed indictment, confirming rumors that a sealed indictment exists, possibly containing more than just Judge Bobby DeLaughter’s name. USA Jim Greenlee afterwards said it would be unsealed shortly.

Scruggs has become a cooperating witness, and Tom Freeland at folo quotes AUSA Bob Norman: “His cooperation has opened several doors we need to investigate.” Could one or more of them lead to Washington?

From the courtroom: Tom Freeland at folo, Alan Lange at Y’all Politics. Also see: Daily Journal, Clarion Ledger.

Scruggs II: Dickie Scruggs Expected To Plead Guilty

Dave Westheimer — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:34:39 +0000

The Clarion Ledger reports that he’ll be appearing on Tuesday in US District Court in Oxford to enter a guilty plea in the ongoing second case (h/t folo). He’s apparently en route from prison in the custody of the US Marshals Service. Meanwhile, Scruggs I defendants Tim Balducci and Steve Patterson will be sentenced next Friday.

Scruggs II: Ed Peters Surrenders Law License, Forfeits Alleged Bribe Proceeds

Dave Westheimer — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:09:12 +0000

With Joey Langston sentenced, the other shoe is about to drop in Scruggs II. On Tuesday, WLBT reported that former Hinds County DA Ed Peters has surrendered his law license. Tuesday evening, NMC at folo posted (.pdf) an order from US Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander seizing $425,000 from Peters; the funds are already in the possession of the United States Marshals Service:

The court is satisfied that based on the Verified Complaint For Forfeiture In Rem, as well as the Verification of the Complaint by Samuel D. Wright, Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, United States Department of Justice, filed with this court on December 31, 2008, there is probable cause to believe that the Defendant property is subject to forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(c) because it is property that constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Wire Fraud), which constitutes a “specified unlawful activity” by virtue of 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (c)(7)(A) and 18 U.S.C. § 1961 (1), collectively.

The Daily Journal has more here on the underlying complaint. Nothing has been announced yet, but it’s apparent that Peters has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. This means that the hammer is about to drop on Judge Bobby DeLaughter and (again) on Dickie Scruggs. Will Scruggs II also ensnare Trent Lott and the mysterious P.L. Blake? Stay tuned.

Scruggs II: Joey Langston Gets Three Year Sentence

Dave Westheimer — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:45:08 +0000

Chief US District Judge Michael Mills on Tuesday sentenced Joey Langston to 36 months in prison for his role in the public corruption scandal now known as “Scruggs II” (Daily Journal, Clarion-Ledger). Langston pleaded guilty in January to a one-count information charging him with bribing Judge Bobby DeLaughter. He received the maximum sentence allowable under his plea agreement despite a a motion for downward departure filed by prosecutors last month citing his extensive cooperation. The implications for Bobby DeLaughter and Ed Peters (not to mention Dickie Scruggs) are ominous.

More: the Daily Journal hints at upcoming Scruggs II indictments, NMC’s courtroom commentary at folo, sentencing transcript (.pdf).

Report Reveals DeLaughter-Peters Connections In Eaton Case

Dave Westheimer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:48:33 +0000

Eaton v. Frisby is a civil trade secrets case not directly related to Dickie Scruggs as far as we know, but it came to light as a result of what’s now known as the “Scruggs II” case. It’s under investigation by the FBI in connection with public corruption allegations against Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter and former Hinds County DA Ed Peters. Frisby maintains that DeLaughter started ruling in favor of Eaton once Peters secretly entered the case on behalf of Eaton.

In a Monday Clarion Ledger story, Jimmie Gates reports on a report filed under seal earlier this month by David Dogan III. Dogan was appointed Special Master in the case after an earlier turn of events we covered here, when DeLaughter removed the first special master under suspicious circumstances and the replacement special master resigned.

In the report, Dogan asserts that Peters maintained improper contact with DeLaughter and recommends that emails and documents showing the communication be produced in connection with the lawsuit.

The documents to be produced show a design, and in certain cases direct evidence, of engaging in contact with Judge DeLaughter on an ex parte basis. Such conduct is not permissible and is, as a matter of law, improper.

In addition to the federal investigation, DeLaughter is the subject of a continuing investigation by the Mississippi Judicial Performance Commission, which suspended him with pay. Circuit Judge Swan Yerger is now handling the lawsuit.

Langston Sentencing Set For December 16

Dave Westheimer — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:42:15 +0000

The Daily Journal reports that Joey Langston will be sentenced for his role in “Scruggs II” on December 16 before Chief US District Judge Michael Mills. Langston pleaded guilty in January to a one-count information charging him with bribing Judge Bobby DeLaughter. I anticipate more pleas and/or indictments shortly. Here’s our recent coverage.

Second Scruggs Criminal Case Still Percolating

Dave Westheimer — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:15:35 +0000

The “other” criminal matter involving Dickie Scruggs is the case in which Joey Langston pleaded guilty in January to bribing Judge Bobby DeLaughter via former Hinds County DA Ed Peters on behalf of Scruggs to influence the Wilson v. Scruggs civil suit. Prosecutors are referring to this case as “Scruggs II”. We’ve heard nothing recently until last week, when prosecutors filed a motion for downward departure from the maximum sentence permitted under Langston’s plea agreement. The motion was supposed to be filed under seal; it was inadvertently made public and quickly withdrawn.

While it’s no secret that Langston pleaded guilty (.pdf) and agreed to cooperate in exchange for a maximum sentence of 36 months, the withdrawn filing contained details not intended to be made public. Still, we can tell you that the case is very much alive (Clarion-Ledger, AP/Sun Herald).