DJ – Judge cuts Scruggses, Backstrom no slack

Judge cuts Scruggses, Backstrom no slack

Now, all that’s on the table at this stage are a defense request for a pretrial conference and the looming deadline – March 17 – to submit plea agreements. No one’s speaking publicly about the latter.

The Scruggses and Backstrom face up to 75 years in prison and a $250,000 fine each, if found guilty. They maintain their innocence.

Probably the most serious blow to the defense team was Biggers’ decision to allow the government to present numerous wiretap conversations it claims make its case that the three men were part of a conspiracy, with former New Albany attorney Timothy Balducci and his partner, former state Auditor Steven Patterson.

NE MS Daily Journal
2/27/8