Alex’s banker buddy got convicted. Alex goes on trial next month for the murder of his wife and son. This is far from over CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A federal jury convicted Russell Laffitte, the former CEO of Palmetto State Bank whom prosecutors accused of conspiring with Lowcountry attorney Alex Murdaugh on all six charges Tuesday night. Laffitte, 51, faced six counts related to financial crimes. Each charge holds a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison with a $1 million fine. Judge Richard Gergel extended Laffitte’s bond, saying he has been compliant. He sets 14 days for post-trial motions. The first charge is one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud/bank fraud. The government must prove that two people, in this case, Laffitte and Murdaugh, entered into an agreement to commit an unlawful act, the defendant knew the act was unlawful and the defendant acted to further the conspiracy. In her closing, U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse reminded the jury that in this charge, the intent to commit the crime is the crime. The second charge is one count of bank fraud and aiding and abetting bank fraud. The argument the government presented for this charge is that Laffitte knowingly repaid Hannah Plyler’s loan with money from Donna Badger’s estate. Laffitte was the conservator for Plyler’s account and personal representative for Badger’s estate. He was charged with the responsibility of both their assets. The third charge is wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud. The argument the government presented for this charge is a more than $33,000 movement of money from Donna Badger’s estate. Charges four through six each deal with misapplication of bank funds and aiding and abetting misapplication of bank funds. For the fourth charge, the government argued that a $680,000 check Laffitte wrote to PMPED firm misapplied bank funds to cover previous money movement on behalf of Murdaugh. For the fifth charge, the government argues that Laffitte extended a $750,000 loan to Murdaugh for beach house renovations without proper collateral and knowing the money was used for other means. Multiple witnesses testified that the bank never received any payments on that loan since by the time the payments were due, Murdaugh was in jail. For the sixth charge, the government argued that Laffitte extended a $500,000 line of credit to Murdaugh for the purpose of farming equipment and documents show a $250,000 cashier’s check from the line pays back Murdaugh’s loan to Hannah Plyler’s trust. https://www.live5news.com/2022/11/23/jury-russell-laffitte-convicted-murdaugh-conspirator-found-guilty-all-six-charges/