United States v. Edwin Edwards, et al.
May 13, 2000OUTCOME: Not Guilty
This was the largest and most notorious white collar trial in Louisiana. It started with a 96 page Indictment. This was the prosecution of Louisiana's former governor, Edwin Edwards, along with a Sta ... te Senator, Gaming Board member and four of the governor's friends. The trial commenced on January 10, 2000, and ended May 13, 2000. Mr. Smith represented Ecotry Fuller, the Gaming Board member who was accused of using his power on the gaming board to effectuate the RICO charges made against the other defendants concerning the issuance of a gaming license to a casino. The trial lasted 4 months. The case was widely covered by the media, both state and national. There were approximately 27,000 recorded conversations from wiretaps and hidden microphones and tens of thousands of pages of discovery. Witnesses appeared from the IRS, FBI, Louisiana State Police, high ranking state officials. Mr. Smith's client was acquitted, the State Senator was acquitted, and the remaining five defendants, including Governor Edwards were convicted.