Federal Court Overturns Conviction of Alex Murdaugh's Banker

Russell Laffitte's conviction is vacated due to juror dismissal errors, prompting a potential retrial.

Laffitte's seven-year prison sentence was overturned by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals due to improper juror handling.
The appeals court found that Judge Richard Gergel violated Laffitte's right to an impartial jury by dismissing a juror without proper procedure.
Russell Laffitte, former CEO of Palmetto State Bank, was initially convicted of six counts of bank and wire fraud.
Laffitte was accused of aiding Alex Murdaugh in diverting settlement funds meant for Murdaugh's clients to cover Murdaugh's debts.
Federal prosecutors plan to retry Laffitte, emphasizing that the trial errors were judicial, not related to the charges themselves.