R. Allen Stanford, the Houston businessman who goes to trial on criminal charges in January 2011, wants new lawyers -- again. In a motion filed today, Stanford asks U.S. District Judge David Hittner of the Southern District of Texas to substitute Michael Essmyer of Houston’s Essmyer, Tritico & Rainey as lead counsel, replacing Kent Schaffer of Bires & Schaffer in Houston. He also wants to substitute Bob Bennett of Houston’s Bennett Nguyen Joint Venture for George McCall “Mac” Secrest of Bennett & Secrest in Houston. “The client simply wanted a change of counsel,” Essmyer says. He declines to say why Stanford, who is in federal custody pending trial, wants to change lawyers. Schaffer and Secrest could not be reached for immediate comment. Essmyer says he has no intention of asking for a delay in the trial, but he notes that it is “highly likely” that Stanford will ask for a change of venue for the trial. According to Stanford’s motion, the federal government “takes no position” on the motion to substitute, but maintains that new counsel should not be a basis for a new trial date. Stanford has pleaded not guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges related to an alleged conspiracy to defraud investors who bought about $7 billion in certificates of deposit sold through Stanford International Bank Ltd. Schaffer, currently Stanford’s lead attorney, has only been on the criminal-defense team since September 2009. Stanford’s past attorneys in his criminal case have included the Federal Public Defender’s Office and Dick DeGuerin, a partner in DeGuerin & Dickson in Houston.
-- Brenda Sapino Jeffreys
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