Posted on 12/05/2005 6:25:47 AM PST by Neville72
After being delayed by Hurricane Katrina, arguments in former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards' latest appeal of his 2000 racketeering and fraud conviction are set for Tuesday in Houston.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hearing had been set for September at the court's New Orleans headquarters. But Katrina hit the city on Aug. 29.
Federal prosecutors had to evacuate the city and did not have access to their files. Meanwhile, the 5th Circuit had to transfer operations to Texas.
Edwards, 78, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for extorting money from applicants for riverboat casino licenses in Louisiana. If his appeal fails, Edwards will not be released before July 2011.
Also involved in the appeal is Edwards' son Stephen Edwards, 51, who is serving a seven-year sentence in the case, with his release set for November 2008.
They have already lost one round of appeals. Their latest effort centers on key prosecution witness Bobby Guidry, a former casino boat owner who testified that he left monthly $100,000 payments for the Edwardses in garbage bins and other public spots.
The defense argues in the appeal that Guidry stood to "save more than $200 million by pleading guilty and implicating the Edwardses" under a "secret" plea agreement that limited his state and federal liability to $3.5 million in fines and forfeitures.
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Edwards' 1991 campaign slogan(in his race against David Duke) was the saddest in US history:
"Vote for the crook, it's important."
He wants out so he can get some of that Katrina loot.
At least he's an honest crook.......
Wasn't this guy involved with Eddie DeBartolo former owner of the 49ers?
In that neck of the bayou, a bought politician STAYS bought.
Yep. DeBartelo had an interest in the casinos being built in LA at the time. I believe he testified that he gave Edwards something like $200,000 to secure the license for the Sheveport casino.
Edwin always said "Vote for the thief you know".
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