Two Jailed for Bribery in Katrina Insurance Case Released from Prison

Former attorney Timothy Balducci and former state auditor Steven Patterson have been released from federal custody.

U.S. Bureau of Prisons records show Patterson was released Dec. 16 and Balducci on Dec. 17.

The two served 24 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to their roles in the attempted bribery of Circuit Judge Henry Lackey.

The payoff was alleged to have been in exchange for a favorable ruling in a legal fees lawsuit against Richard Scruggs and others in Hurricane Katrina-related insurance cases. Lackey assisted in the government’s investigation.

The men were indicted in November 2007, along with Scruggs, his son and a law partner. Everyone went to prison. Only Scruggs remains in custody.

Balducci and Patterson will be on supervised release for another 36 months.