Russell Laffitte
Russell Laffitte: Appeals Court Overturns Conviction and Sentence
Juror Misconduct and Systemic Failures in Laffitte and Murdaugh Trials Spark Calls for New Trial
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The conviction of former Palmetto State Bank CEO Russell Lucius Laffitte, who is serving a seven-year federal prison sentence for his role in Alex Murdaugh’s financial schemes, has been overturned by a court of appeals. Laffitte’s defense has argued that critical errors in jury handling, similar to those alleged in the Alex Murdaugh trial, call into question the fairness of his proceedings and warrant a new trial.
Laffitte’s conviction stems from his involvement in aiding former attorney Alex Murdaugh to embezzle millions from clients, often personal injury victims. While Murdaugh, once a prominent South Carolina lawyer, faces murder and fraud charges, Laffitte was convicted on counts including bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
However, Laffitte’s defense asserts that procedural missteps during jury deliberations violated his Fifth Amendment right to a fair trial and his Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury. During Laffitte’s trial, two jurors—one who expressed anxiety and another who felt “pressured to change her vote”—were dismissed without his full knowledge. The judge’s decision to replace these jurors after hours of deliberations led to a rapid guilty verdict, raising concerns over the impartiality of the proceedings.
As this news network said in our September article, the Laffitte trial, two jurors were controversially replaced after hours of deliberations. Juror #88 expressed anxiety and requested dismissal, while Juror #93 felt “pressured to change her vote” and also required an antibiotic. Rather than adjourn for the evening to allow jurors to rest and continue the next day, the presiding judge opted to replace these jurors. The rapid return of a guilty verdict by the newly constituted jury—less than 50 minutes later—underscored the significance of this decision.
This echoes the controversial jury issues in the Alex Murdaugh trial, where allegations of misconduct focused on Clerk of Court Becky Hill. Defense attorneys in that case argued Hill’s alleged influence over jurors compromised Murdaugh’s right to a fair trial.
The scrutiny surrounding juror conduct and external pressures has fueled public mistrust in the judicial process. Myra Crosby, a juror in the Murdaugh case, recently released a book titled Because Enough is Enough, expressing her frustration with the judicial system. Public reception of Crosby’s account stands in stark contrast to the criticism of Becky Hill’s book, which has drawn ire for allegedly capitalizing on her role in the Murdaugh trial. The contrasting narratives around these publications underscore public concerns that high-profile trials are increasingly influenced by media and personal interests rather than impartial justice.
The defense’s arguments in Laffitte’s case have gained attention from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, where judges questioned the handling of juror dismissals. Judge Toby Heytens, in particular, described the judge’s decision as “fatally ambiguous” and questioned why Laffitte’s attorneys were not consulted beforehand. The appellate court’s ruling, based on potential juror misconduct and Laffitte’s right to be present during trial stages, could set a precedent for high-profile cases involving similar procedural flaws.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs has condemned Laffitte’s actions, stating that his abuse of power as Palmetto State Bank’s CEO “undermines public trust in the judicial and banking systems.” Yet, as both the Murdaugh and Laffitte cases reveal, trust in the judicial process itself may also be at stake.
The appellate court’s decision could determine whether Russell Laffitte receives a new trial, free from the alleged juror and procedural errors that have marred his conviction. The outcome will serve as a critical test of the system’s commitment to fairness and may well signify that “enough is enough.”
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