The Truth Behind the Russell Laffitte Crimes Shines Bright

The Truth Behind the Russell Laffitte Crimes Shines Bright: Murdaugh and Laffitte Were About Money, Not Murder

By James Seidel | CC News Network

CHARLESTON, SC — A fresh chapter unfolded this week in the ever-deepening saga surrounding disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh and former banker Russell Laffitte. But the storyline has never been clearer: this was a story about money, not murder. Let me explain.

In a stunning shift, Russell Laffitte formally admitted in federal court to what investigators and victims have long alleged—that he and Murdaugh worked together for over a decade to siphon more than $3.5 million from vulnerable legal clients through Palmetto State Bank, which Laffitte once led as CEO.

Guilty Plea Reveals What He Always Denied

Unlike his previous claims of being misled or merely careless, Laffitte now concedes he knew exactly what he was doing. The six counts he pled guilty to this week all include the legal element of “knowing and willful” criminal conduct. Gone are the deflections. In their place is a full-throated admission: he was a knowing participant in a fraud that targeted the poor, the grieving, and the helpless.

“Just being in the same room with Alex Murdaugh is enough to get anyone convicted,” one attorney familiar with the case noted. But in 2025, Murdaugh is radioactive. Any jury hearing how he and Laffitte handled millions from injury and wrongful death settlements would likely come down hard.

That retrial will never happen. In exchange for Laffitte’s guilty plea, prosecutors dropped plans for a second trial and offered a reduced five-year sentence. The plea saves victims the emotional toll of another court proceeding while locking in Laffitte’s culpability.

This appeared to be a giant game of legal chicken. Did the feds have the backing of their new boss in Washington or even have the financial budget to fund what seems to be something they could charge a lot of small-town bankers if they looked hard enough. To Laffitte possibly feeling pressure from a possible longer prison sentence unless he admits guilt. It looks like both the feds and Laffitte got what they wanted. However, Judge Richard Gergal is the same judge who did not accept the U.S. Attorney’s recommendation on Alex Murdaugh’s sentencing, and gave him more.

So, we’ll see what actually happens on Friday in federal court in Charleston. But either way, some lazy writer will likely call Laffitte a crook or some dumb headline for a click. Just report the news and say something like, “Russell Laffitte to Plead Guilty in Exchange for Less Prison Time”. Leave the over-the-top name calling to the Facebook groups of overzealous stay at home true crime followers.

Why It Matters

This plea confirms what many have argued all along: that the Murdaugh saga was never really about homicide first and foremost—it was about corruption, greed, and a generational abuse of institutional power. The deaths, as tragic and headline-grabbing as they are, are the tail end of a longer story about stolen trust and stolen money. But MSM will never go down this road, it takes too much time to investigate.

Among the many victims:

• Hannah Plyler and Alania Plyler Spohn (represented by Eric Bland)
• Natarsha Thomas (represented by Rep. Justin Bamberg)
• Arthur Badger, whose wife was killed in a crash, leaving him with six children (represented by Mark Tinsley)

The dollar amounts stolen were staggering, but the betrayal cuts deeper. Laffitte, once a pillar of Hampton County banking, now stands convicted of exploiting clients who relied on his stewardship.

Before You Start Screaming that Laffitte Should Get More Prison Time

Case of South Carolina Attorney Candy Kern

Candy Kern, of Anderson, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to conspiracy for her role in a nationwide structured cash flow scheme. This scheme, which operated from 2012 to 2021, exploited military veterans in financial distress and targeted elderly investors looking for safe retirement investments.

Kern’s role involved using her law firm to facilitate illegal assignments of veterans’ benefits. The scheme promised veterans lump-sum payments in exchange for their pension and disability benefits, which is illegal under federal law. The retirees were misled into believing these assignments were valid investments, ultimately resulting in significant financial losses.

Kern’s law firm managed and controlled the financial transactions, filed lawsuits against defaulting veterans, and facilitated the flow of approximately $14 million in illegally assigned benefits. The firm earned about $1.4 million, while retirees lost over $31 million. The scheme collapsed when many veterans could not repay or refused to continue payments upon realizing the illegality of the contracts.

In February 2024, Kern was sentenced to five years of probation, with the first 500 days under home detention with GPS monitoring. Her sentence also included restitution of $1,442,401.56 to be paid to the victims.

Still believe there’s no double standard when you throw in the name Murdaugh? Just ask Corey Fleming, he’s serving 13 years & 10 months. Attorney Candy Kern? 5 years’ probation.

The Paul Murdaugh Friend Group Shadowed by Death and Scandal | Alex’s friend Group – Money and Drugs | Let’s Compare Them

The saga’s reach stretches beyond Laffitte and Murdaugh. The friend group surrounding Paul Murdaugh remains haunted by suspicion, tragedy, and criminal activity:

• Patrick Wilson, a person of interest in the 2015 Stephen Smith case, now lives in Greenville and has faced criminal charges. He was not paid from the boating accident and lawsuit. He was also represented in a criminal case by Corey Fleming. The case was not pursued by the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s office in which Alex Murdaugh as an assistant volunteer solicitor. Wilson told us that Paul recommended he talk to his dad, and Alex referred him to Fleming after meeting with Wilson and his great-grandmother, Lucy Altman.
• Shawn Connelly, another figure connected to Smith’s case, still resides in Brunson, SC, with new criminal charges in 2024. He was not paid from the boating accident and lawsuit. He was invited and attended Anthony Cook’s wedding.
• Connor Cook, once accused of being the scapegoat in the Mallory Beach boat crash case, is now engaged or married to Miley Altman, Wilson’s cousin. Both were paid from the boat crash lawsuit.
• Morgan Doughty, Paul Murdaugh’s former girlfriend, has reportedly married. Paid from the boat crash lawsuit.
• Anthony Cook, now married, and the former boyfriend of Mallory Beach. Paid from the boat crash lawsuit.
• Paul Murdaugh, alleged driver of the boat that crashed and killed Mallory Beach. Now dead from gunshots.

The list of lives upended is long:

• Stephen Smith — found dead in 2015, case reopened, with Wilson and Connelly named in connection, both were friends of Paul.
• Mallory Beach — killed in the 2019 boat crash with Paul Murdaugh at the helm
• Gloria Satterfield — the Murdaugh family housekeeper, allegedly pushed down the porch stairs at Moselle, leading to a multi-million-dollar insurance scam by Alex Murdaugh and Corey Fleming. Wilson alleges that he personally heard Paul Murdaugh tell him and many others that Murdaugh himself pushed Gloria to her death.

• Paul and Maggie Murdaugh — murdered in June 2021

Each of these deaths intersected with individuals in this tight-knit group.

Who is in Prison? The Friend Group with all the Surrounding Deaths? Or the Bankers and Attorneys and Drug Dealers?

• Alex Murdaugh is in prison after being convicted of murdering Paul and Maggie Murdaugh by a jury that decided a 6 week case in as little as 45 minutes. It’s been written and told that the jury is to have been severally tampered with as alleged by Juror 785, Myra Crosby, as well as several other jurors in this trial. One juror has said she changed her undecided vote to guilty because the others wanted to just go home and Alex would have to go to prison anyway for the financial crimes.
• Cory Fleming – Cory is serving 4 years in a federal penitentiary for financial crimes he conspired with to steal millions with Alex Murdaugh. Cory also represented Patrick Wilson, Connor Cook, Paul Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh and the Satterfield family. After his time in federal prison, Fleming must then serve 10 years in an S.C. state prison.
• Russell Laffitte – The former CEO of Palmetto State is expected to plead guilty in exchange for less prison time of 5 years less 13 months time served.
• Jerry Rivers was sentenced to seven years in February 2024 for drug distribution, money laundering, and fraud, surrounding Alex Murdaugh. Rivers denied being associated with gangs or participating in criminal networks as portrayed by the media and law enforcement. “For one, I’m not a gang member, never have been, never will be. The media and SLED spread false information about me,” Rivers stated exclusively to the CC News Network.
• Spencer Roberts: Sentenced to eight years for money laundering and fraud, with additional charges of drug distribution and laundering over $100,000 pending. Roberts allegedly laundered more than $160,000 through checks cashed as part of Murdaugh’s schemes.
• Cousin Eddie Smith, often referred to as “Cousin Eddie,” was indicted in 2021 on a series of charges tied to Murdaugh’s activities, including drug distribution, money laundering, and his role in Murdaugh’s staged roadside shooting insurance scam. He was recently released from electronic home monitoring, and has not stepped foot in a court to account for these charges in years.

Any of this starting to make sense yet?

Victims and Attorneys Weigh In

Attorney Eric Bland, representing the Plyler sisters, welcomed the plea for bringing closure. “We don’t have to put the victims through that trauma again,” he said. Rep. Justin Bamberg agreed: “Having someone finally own what they did has a value that goes beyond prison time.”

Even Mark Tinsley, the attorney for Arthur Badger, saw the plea as necessary. “The evidence was overwhelming,” he said. “It would have been hard for any jury to ignore.”

To note, these three attorneys have all profited from Murdaugh being convicted.

• Attorney Eric Bland sued and won millions for the family of Gloria Satterfield, is a podcaster with Luna Shark Media, owned by Mandy Matney.  Bland also made it well known that he and Creighton Waters texted and sometimes spoke daily about strategy during the Alex Murdaugh trial.
• Attorney Mark Tinsley won millions in the boat wreck case, mainly from Greg Parker’s insurance company. It’s been alleged that Mark was brough into the Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 case by Mandy Matney, owner of Luna Shark Media, The Does are suing Myrtle Beach pastor John Paul Miller. Mark Tinsley confirmed in interviews following the Alex Murdaugh guilty verdict that he watched the verdict being read from Judge Clifton Newman’s chambers.
• Attorney Justin Bamberg has represented former Clerk of Court, Becky Hill. Bamberg has appeared on podcasts and interviews produced by Luna Shark Media, often:

  • Sharing insights about his clients.

  • Speaking out against systemic failures in South Carolina’s legal and law enforcement institutions.

  • Advocating for reform in response to the Murdaugh scandal.

Conclusion

This case wasn’t about murder, as lurid and captivating as that chapter is. The real narrative of Alex Murdaugh and Russell Laffitte is one of money, power, and betrayal. And for every life taken, a dozen more were financially shattered. We’re not here to discount any of that.

Laffitte’s plea is a legal win. But more than that, it’s a moral turning point. It proves what Crime and Cask has said from the beginning:

The Murdaugh saga is not just a tragedy of blood. It is a tragedy of greed. But with new information swirling, it’s becoming rapidly apparent, that Alex Murdaugh didn’t kill his wife and son, but rather it appears it was an assassination of Paul Murdaugh to quiet him forever, with his mother being a tragic casualty.

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