By Patsy R. Brumfield
Daily Journal
OXFORD – New Albany attorney Timothy Balducci has pleaded guilty to federal charges he tried to bribe a judge to get a favorable ruling to divide $26.5 million in attorneys fees in an insurance case.
His plea was discovered by the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal on Wednesday from an Internet site that publishes federal court documents.
Dated Dec. 4, Balducci’s three-page plea agreement – which he signed at the bottom – says he pleads guilty to Count One of the indictment, the conspiracy to bribe Circuit Judge Henry Lackey with $50,000.
He also agrees to cooperate with the U.S. attorney.
In the document, the government acknowledges Balducci has been “substantially” assisting with their case again him, Oxford lawyers Richard Scruggs, his son Zach Scruggs and Sidney Backstrom, plus Balducci employee former state auditor Steven A. Patterson, all of whom have pleaded not guilty.
The government also agrees not to charge him with any other offenses arising from the indictment. No sentence was imposed yet, the document notes.
An Oxford source Wednesday also said he has heard Balducci may be in the federal witness protection program, but no confirmation of that action has been received by the Daily Journal yet.
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