EMAIL DETAILS

In case you didn't know....

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Allen Stanford is *not fit to stand
trial <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12294466>* at the present
time.

Stanford is accused of running a $7 billion fraud scheme in which he
persuaded investors to buy certificates of deposit from Stanford
International Bank, located in Antigua. According to prosecutors he
“promised returns that were too good to be true”. He has denied any
wrongdoing and has pled not guilty to the charges of fraud, conspiracy, and
obstruction.

In his ruling, District Judge David Hittner ruled that Stanford ‘did not
have the present mental capacity to assist his lawyers.’

The judge ordered Stanford to undergo treatment at a U.S. prison hospital
for an addiction to an anti-anxiety medication, and also receive additional
psychiatric testing. The judge also stated, “The court’s finding that
Stanford is incompetent, however, does not alter the court’s finding that
Stanford is a flight risk and that no combination of conditions of pretrial
release can reasonably assure his appearance at trial.”

Allen Stanford has been in custody since June 2009 when he surrendered to
authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

His trial was supposed to begin this week but the judge said a new trial
date will be set once Stanford’s detox and test results were in.

At earlier court appearances psychiatrists testified Stanford was suffering
with bouts of delirioum linked to his addiction. They also said that he was
incompetent to stand trial due to a brain injury he suffered after a fight
with a prison inmate in 2009.

--
Arlene Busch
202-333-1880
abusch@rosemontseneca.co