Appeals court rejects another request to free Allen Stanford

As federal appeals court stated Monday, it delivered a judgment swindler Allen Stanford, blamed for a $7 billion fraud involving certificates of deposit issued by his Antigua bank, must stay in jail until his fraud trial. It’s widely known, he has been arrested in Virginia on June 18.

US District Judge David Hittner in Houston ruled in June the former billionaire has to stay imprisonment because of a flight risk. In turn, The US Court of Appeals supported this decision.

Robert Luskin, a Washington attorney filed the appeal on Stanford's behalf said "We're disappointed with the decision. Allen Stanford deserves to be released and needs to be released in order to effectively assist in his own defense."

US prosecutors argued that Stanford, who faces life in prison if convicted on all charges in a 21-count indictment, had the means and motive to flee. The appeals court ruling is yet another twist in a legal battle to get Stanford out of prison. 

Stanford's attorneys appealed Hittner's ruling to the higher court in New Orleans, arguing the order was based on erroneous information and violated their client's constitutional rights. No trial date has been set, but Stanford is due in court on Thursday for a hearing before Hittner.

Dick DeGuerin, Stanford's criminal attorney, required to withdraw from the case because he has yet to be paid and Hittner is due to hear arguments on that motion.