Laura Pendergest-Holt, the first person arrested in the $8 billion Allen Stanford fraud investigation, walks from the Federal Courthouse after posting a $300,000 bond in Houston February 27, 2009. FBI agents had arrested Pendergest-Holt, Stanford Financial Group's chief investment officer, at Stanford's Houston-based headquarters and accused her of obstructing an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission into what the agency called "massive ongoing fraud" by Stanford Financial Group Chairman Allen Stanford and three of his companies. Reuters Pictures 11 months ago

Laura Pendergest-Holt, the first person arrested in the $8 billion Allen Stanford fraud investigation, walks from the Federal Courthouse after posting a $300,000 bond in Houston February 27, 2009. FBI agents had arrested Pendergest-Holt, Stanford Financial Group's chief investment officer, at Stanford's Houston-based headquarters and accused her of obstructing an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission into what the agency called "massive ongoing fraud" by Stanford Financial Group Chairman Allen Stanford and three of his companies.

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  1. Accused swindler Allen Stanford arrives at Federal Court in Houston in the rain December 17, 2009. A federal judge found Stanford and his attorneys in contempt of a court order on Wednesday over their attempts to collect insurance policy proceeds to pay defense costs. Stanford, 59, is accused of leading a Ponzi scheme centered on certificates of deposit issued by his Stanford International Bank Ltd, his offshore bank in Antigua. He has denied any wrongdoing.
  2. Accused swindler Allen Stanford arrives at Federal Court in Houston December 17, 2009. A federal judge found Stanford and his attorneys in contempt of a court order on Wednesday over their attempts to collect insurance policy proceeds to pay defense costs. Stanford, 59, is accused of leading a Ponzi scheme centered on certificates of deposit issued by his Stanford International Bank Ltd, his offshore bank in Antigua. He has denied any wrongdoing.
  3. Accused swindler Allen Stanford is directed by a U.S. Marshall as he arrives at Federal Court in Houston in the rain December 17, 2009. A federal judge found Stanford and his attorneys in contempt of a court order on Wednesday over their attempts to collect insurance policy proceeds to pay defense costs. Stanford, 59, is accused of leading a Ponzi scheme centered on certificates of deposit issued by his Stanford International Bank Ltd, his offshore bank in Antigua. He has denied any wrongdoing.
  4. Accused swindler Allen Stanford arrives at Federal Court in Houston December 17, 2009. A federal judge found Stanford and his attorneys in contempt of a court order on Wednesday over their attempts to collect insurance policy proceeds to pay defense costs. Stanford, 59, is accused of leading a Ponzi scheme centered on certificates of deposit issued by his Stanford International Bank Ltd, his offshore bank in Antigua. He has denied any wrongdoing.
  5. R. Allen Stanford arrives at the federal courthouse for a hearing Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 in Houston. The government has accused Stanford in civil and criminal charges of running a US$7 billion Ponzi scheme.
  6. RNPS IMAGES OF THE YEAR 2009 - Texas billionaire Allen Stanford's shackled feet are pictured as he arrives at the Bob Casey Federal courthouse in the custody of U.S. Marshals in Houston June 29, 2009. Stanford faces criminal charges for a $7 billion Ponzi scheme.
  7. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) (L) talks with Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller prior to a Senate Judiciary Hearing focusing on the attempted bombing incident on Northwest Flight 253 January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee's goal is to improve the effectiveness of anti-terrorism tools and inter-agency communication in an attempt to increase airline safety after the attempted Christmas bombing of the flight.
  8. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller (L) talks with Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy prior to a Senate Judiciary Hearing focusing on the attempted bombing incident on Northwest Flight 253 January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee's goal is to improve the effectiveness of anti-terrorism tools and inter-agency communication in an attempt to increase airline safety after the attempted Christmas bombing of the flight.
  9. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller testifies at a Senate Judiciary Hearing focusing on the attempted bombing incident on Northwest Flight 253 January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee's goal is to improve the effectiveness of anti-terrorism tools and inter-agency communication in an attempt to increase airline safety after the attempted Christmas bombing of the flight.
  10. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: (L to R) Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller, Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy and Assistant Homeland Security Secretary for Policy David Heyman participate in a Senate Judiciary Hearing focusing on the attempted bombing incident on Northwest Flight 253 January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee's goal is to improve the effectiveness of anti-terrorism tools and inter-agency communication in an attempt to increase airline safety after the attempted Christmas bombing of the flight.
  11. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller testifies at a Senate Judiciary Hearing focusing on the attempted bombing incident on Northwest Flight 253 January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee's goal is to improve the effectiveness of anti-terrorism tools and inter-agency communication in an attempt to increase airline safety after the attempted Christmas bombing of the flight.
  12. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller testifies at a Senate Judiciary Hearing focusing on the attempted bombing incident on Northwest Flight 253 January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee's goal is to improve the effectiveness of anti-terrorism tools and inter-agency communication in an attempt to increase airline safety after the attempted Christmas bombing of the flight.
  13. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: (L to R) Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller, Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy and Assistant Homeland Security Secretary for Policy David Heyman participate in a Senate Judiciary Hearing focusing on the attempted bombing incident on Northwest Flight 253 January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee's goal is to improve the effectiveness of anti-terrorism tools and inter-agency communication in an attempt to increase airline safety after the attempted Christmas bombing of the flight.
  14. FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on improving the effectiveness of anti-terrorism efforts and inter-agency communication.

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