DeGuerin Out, Patton Boggs In as Stanford’s Defense Counsel in $7B Case

The Texas lawyer who has been working with R. Allen Stanford since March is on his way out, and a former federal prosecutor at Washington, D.C.-based Patton Boggs will soon be at the helm of the accused Ponzi schemer's defense, it was announced today.

Although Dick DeGuerin never officially represented the 59-year-old Stanford, whose assets have been frozen since February, he has repeatedly spoken for him. Now, however, Robert Luskin of Patton Boggs will lead the criminal defense team, reports Reuters.

"All I have to say I will say in my motions to withdraw," DeGuerin tells the news agency. The Tex Parte blog of Texas Lawyer reports that DeGuerin says in his filing he is “unwilling to go forward without the assurance of being paid for work in the future," after Stanford “refused” to authorize him to “seek assurances of future legal fees and expenses.”

Stanford has been unhappy lately about his sweltering jail cell, as discussed in an earlier ABAJournal.com post.

Earlier coverage:

ABAJournal.com: "Judge Revokes $500K Bail for Billionaire R. Allen Stanford"

ABAJournal.com: "Financier Allen Stanford Hires Maritime Lawyers for Investment Fraud Case"