The Eagle’s webmaster has finally put up the Friday edition. I was hoping for a look at Tim Balducci but instead we get this photo that makes me wonder about the barber schools in North Mississippi (if any). Anyhow, here you go . . .
Former Mississippi state auditor Steve Patterson (right) with attorney Hiram Eastland as he enters U.S. District Court for sentencing this morning. Patterson appeared light-hearted before being sentenced, asking the photographers taking his photo: “Where were you when I was running for office?” Photo by Bruce Newman.
2/13/09 – Last two judicial bribery defendants sentenced
Alyssa Schnugg
Staff Writer
The last two defendants in what’s been branded the Scruggs I judicial bribery case were sentenced to spend 24 months in federal prison for their roles in the scheme to bribe a circuit court judge.
Timothy Balducci and Steven Patterson both appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Neal B. Biggers this morning at the Federal Courthouse in Oxford.
Both men pleaded guilty a year ago to a charge of conspiring with Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, his son and attorney Zach Scruggs and his law partner Sidney Backstrom to bribe Circuit Court Judge Henry Lackey with $40,000 for a favorable ruling in a lawsuit against the elder Scruggs involving legal fees in Hurricane Katrina related litigation.
During Balducci’s sentencing hearing, U.S. Assistant Attorney Bob Norman told the judge that his department had never seen such “complete cooperation” from another defendant. He said Balducci’s help has opened the doors to other investigations of corruption and that the Scruggs case got as far as it did because of Balducci’s assistance.
“His cooperation was immediate,” Norman said. “He’s doing the best he knows how to do to right the wrong he has done.”
Biggers agreed but reminded Balducci he was the “bag man” in the case.
“You carried the money,” he said. “You talked the judge into going along with what you wanted to do.”
Balducci told Biggers and the court that he was “profoundly sorry” for what he had done.
“All I can do now is try to make things as rights as I can,” Balducci said.
Norman also reported that Patterson has cooperated with the government, albeit to a lesser degree than Balducci.
Patterson was called a “minor” participant in the case, although he received the same sentence as Balducci.
Before he was sentenced, Patterson said he was embarrassed and humiliated.
“If God gave me a choice to live carefree in paradise the rest of my life, or to choose to go back two years ago and change my actions, I would not hesitate to enlist to do the latter,” he told Biggers.
Both men will report to prison on March 25. The government asked for the later reporting dates because their testimony may be needed when the grand jury meets in the March.
The saga began on Nov. 27, 2007, when FBI agents raided Scruggs’ office on the Square. The next day, the five men were indicted.
On Dec. 5, 2007, the day of his arraignment, Balducci pleaded guilty to the bribery charge.
It was later learned that Balducci had been working with the government in building its case against Scruggs and the others.
But it was also Balducci who got the ball rolling. In trying to gain favor with Scruggs, during a meeting with the other defendants in March 2006, he told the famous trial attorney that he could use his friendship to corruptly influence the judge to find in favor of Scruggs in the lawsuit Jones v. Scruggs.
After Balducci approached Lackey and suggested that if Lackey would find in favor of Scruggs, he would give Lackey a place in his law firm after Lackey retired. Appalled, Lackey told the FBI about the conversation. For six months, Lackey allowed his office and telephone to be tapped. In September 2006, in another meeting with Balducci, the subject of money came up and Balducci offered Lackey $40,000. It was later discovered Scruggs was providing the funds.
Balducci was approached by the FBI in November 2007 and he began cooperating with the government and wore a wire tap himself on the day the money was given to Lackey.
Scruggs was sentenced in June to spend five years in a federal prison in Kentucky. His son is serving a 14-month sentence in Forrest City, Ark., and Backstrom is serving 28 months in Forrest City.
Earlier this week, Scruggs was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a bribery case involving Hinds Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter, which came to light during the Lackey case and through testimony of Balducci. The sentence will run concurrent with his original five-year sentence.
“..makes me wonder about the barber schools in North Mississippi (if any).” That’s the funniest thing I’ve read today.
Somebody at Ole Miss should do a Southern Studies paper on the “Unique and Interesting Hairstyles of Northeast Mississippi.” I swear they are distinct, in the same way an Alabama accent is different from a Mississippi accent.
BLUE STEEL!
They ain’t really sporting “bama bangs” and that’s a relief,
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bama+Bangs, but they’re both close to wearing what’s known in my neighborhood as a caufro.
bama bangs are a new one on me.
What Goggle sent me to that’s titled “Caufro’s photo” is not what you had in mind, I don’t think.
No, a “caufro” is a Caucasion afro. But that’s an interesting site you found, though not containing, best I can tell, the first caufro.
I guessed that but thought the link result funny.
While personally witnessing the sentencing process on Friday in rapt attentiveness and struck by its solemnity, I was overwhelmed by the stark contrast between the first defendant and second defendant in the Scruggs I matter.
Steve Patterson acted like it was just another day in the political world. He said – but did not evidence – he was deeply embarrassed and humiliated (about what was never quite clear other than what people were saying about him). His conduct afterwards reflected a callousness toward the entire matter.
Tim Balducci – on his own behalf and without the assistance of counsel – confessed to his wrongdoings, apologized to the innocent people hurt by them and declared that he would spend – as he has sought to so do since being confronted on the matter – the rest of his earthly life trying do what is right. In fact, the most favorable comments came not from his mouth but rather that of the prosecutor. The scars of this matter visibly weighed upon him – lighter, older, humbler. His family has obviously been deeply affected.
What a contrast !
I’ve been out of town, so forgive me if this has already been asked and answered, but what is the grand jury going to meet about in March?
You’ll have to ask the prosecutors. They don’t share this information with regular folks usually.
(seriously, the only clues we have is that Bob Norman, who is taking the lead on the Scruggs cases, says he needs Patterson and Balducci for the March grand jury)
I saw pretty much what you saw, JustOlMoi.
From the new photos of Tim, he doesn’t look like the same person WLBT keeps putting in their newscasts! One year made quite a difference.