Ex-DEA agent enters plea in shredding case

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Posted on Friday, 09.18.09
Ex-DEA agent enters plea in shredding case
By CURT ANDERSON
AP Legal Affairs Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A former top U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who later became head of global security for disgraced financier Allen Stanford pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he illegally ordered the shredding of thousands of Stanford documents.

A three-count grand jury indictment charges Thomas Raffanello, former chief of the DEA's office in Miami, with conspiracy and obstructing a federal investigation by ordering the document destruction in February at Stanford Financial Group's office in Fort Lauderdale. The indictment claims Raffanello violated a court order requiring that all Stanford documents be preserved.

Stanford is accused of operating a massive, multinational Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of $7 billion. He and several other former Stanford executives are awaiting trial in Houston.

In the Florida case, the 61-year-old Raffanello faces a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted. Another former Stanford security employee, 42-year-old Bruce Perraud, is also charged and has pleaded not guilty. Both are free on bail, with trial expected in mid-January.

Defense attorney Richard Sharpstein, representing Raffanello along with former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey, said Raffanello had a sterling 30-year career with the DEA that included investigations into drug trafficking by former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and bosses of Colombia's Medellin cocaine cartel. He joined Stanford after retiring from the DEA five years ago.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1239529.html

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