Judge Revokes Stanford Bond

A US district judge today revoked bond for Texas financier R. Allen Stanford, who's charged with swindling investors out of $7 billion. David Hittner approved a request by prosecutors to overturn a magistrate judge's decision to allow Stanford freed on $500,000 bond pending his trial. Prosecutors argued that Stanford's international ties make him a serious flight risk.

Stanford holds dual US and Antiguan citizenship, has an international network of wealthy acquaintances who would help him and possibly access to vast wealth hidden around the world. These are "flight risk indicators that are virtually unprecedented for a white collar defendant," a prosecutor said. But Dick DeGuerin, Stanford's attorney, says his client is penniless, has never tried to flee and wants to fight the charges against him. (More Robert Allen Stanford stories.)