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Man Charged With Trying To Swindle Petters Lawyer

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Oct 28, 2008 10:57 pm US/Central

Man Charged With Trying To Swindle Petters Lawyer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ― An ex-convict has been charged with trying to swindle money from an attorney for Tom Petters, the businessman at the center of a massive fraud case.

Derrick Lee Riddle is charged with theft by swindle and attempting to aid an offender. He allegedly told Petters' attorney he could make the charges against his client go away for $250,000.

The attorney received a call Oct. 17 from a man who said there were, "people who want to help his client beat the case and put a judge in his pocket."

The attorney contacted the FBI, which set up a sting with an undercover agent at his law firm. Detectives arrested the 37-year-old Riddle at his Minneapolis home last Friday.

Riddle has served time in prison for several crimes including domestic assault and terroristic threats.

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Items federal agents seized at Tom Petters' Wayzata home in the fall of 2008 included $13,000 in cash, numerous credit cards, a .22 caliber revolver and 11 high-end watches, including four Rolexes.



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