U.S. ATTORNEY: EXPECT ‘SCRUGGS II’ INDICTMENT SOON
There was little doubt he was speaking of suspended Judge Bobby DeLaughter, who former Booneville attorney Joey Langston said months ago was tempted by Scruggs with a federal judgeship.
Specifically, the shadow falls on scheme participants as described Tuesday by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Norman: former New Albany attorney Timothy Balducci and former state Auditor Steven Patterson, plus DeLaughter, former Hinds District Attorney Ed Peters and former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott.
– Balducci and Patterson, accused by Norman as original schemers with Scruggs and Langston.
– DeLaughter, alleged to have ruled for Scruggs to earn the judgeship.
– Peters, who Norman said Patterson suggested could influence DeLaughter as his former boss and friend.
– Lott, who made the call to DeLaughter allegedly telling him he was under consideration for a seat in the Southern District of Mississippi.
Coincidentally, Balducci and Patterson will be sentenced Friday for their guilty pleas in “Scruggs I,” the conspiracy to bribe Circuit Judge Henry Lackey of Calhoun City. Lackey was never accused of any wrongdoing.
NE MS Daily Journal
2/11/9
