Court Overturns Laffitte's Fraud Conviction

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned the conviction and seven-year sentence of Russell Laffitte, a former banker accused of conspiring with Alex Murdaugh to commit bank and wire fraud. The appeal was granted due to judicial errors during the trial, particularly involving the mishandling of juror dismissals without input from Laffitte or his legal counsel, which violated his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights. Laffitte was initially convicted for using his position at Palmetto State Bank to assist Murdaugh in illegally diverting client funds. The court's decision vacates the prior ruling and mandates a new trial, although a timeline for these proceedings has not been set. Federal prosecutors have expressed readiness to prove Laffitte’s guilt in a retrial. The ruling highlights concerns about the impartiality of the jury deliberation process, as the guilty verdict was reached swiftly after juror replacements.