IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 12-20411

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Plaintiff - Appellee

v.

ROBERT ALLEN STANFORD, also known as Sir Allen Stanford, also known 

as Allen Stanford

 Defendant - Appellant

Appeals from the United States District Court 

for the Southern District of Texas

Before BENAVIDES, CLEMENT and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.

EDITH BROWN CLEMENT, Circuit Judge:

After a jury trial, Robert Allen Stanford was convicted of one count of 

conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§§ 1341, 1343, and 1349; four counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 

1343 and 2; five counts of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 2;

one count of conspiracy to obstruct a Securities and Exchange Commission

(“SEC”) investigation in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1505 and 371; one count of 

obstruction of an SEC investigation in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1505 and 2; and 

one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§ 1956(h). On appeal, Stanford asserts ten issues: (1) that the district court 

lacked jurisdiction; (2) that the indictment was defective and was 

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

October 29, 2015

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

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constructively amended at trial; (3) that the district court erred in denying his 

request for continuance; (4) that simultaneous civil and criminal proceedings

constituted double jeopardy; (5) that authorities seized certain evidence in 

violation of the Fourth Amendment; (6) that the trial court erred in 

instructions to the jury; (7) that his sentence was based on improper 

enhancements; (8) that the district court was not impartial and showed 

favoritism to the government; (9) that cumulative error denied him a fair trial; 

and (10) that the government failed to provide exculpatory evidence. We 

AFFIRM.

BACKGROUND

After a failed fitness-club venture in Texas, Robert Allen Stanford 

eventually rebranded himself as a banker in the Caribbean, forming Guardian 

International Bank, Ltd., (“Guardian”), on the island of Montserrat. Guardian 

advertised certificates of deposit (“CDs”) averaging higher returns than those 

offered by banks in the United States, and Guardian’s marketing materials 

and annual reports assured its customers that the bank pursued sound, 

conservative investment strategies and subjected itself to rigorous 

independent audits. In 1990, however, Montserrat’s Ministry of Finance and 

Economic Development notified Stanford of its intent to revoke Guardian’s 

banking license, citing various regulatory violations. In response, Stanford 

relocated the bank to the nearby island of Antigua, renaming it Stanford 

International Bank, Ltd. (“SIB”).

Like its predecessor, SIB offered higher-return CDs supported by 

detailed marketing materials and annual reports showing steady growth.

Stanford then established the Stanford Group Company (“SGC”), a brokerdealer and investment advisor headquartered in Houston, Texas, to expand 

the SIB CD market into the United States. Stanford’s financial empire grew 

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rapidly over the following years while Stanford spent lavishly, purchasing 

boats, mansions, and personal aircraft and sponsoring high-dollar cricket 

tournaments.

During the financial crisis of 2008, Stanford’s investors sought CD 

redemptions in large numbers while new sales slowed down. SIB was unable 

to pay the redemptions. In February of 2009, a court-appointed receiver took 

control of Stanford’s companies. At the time, SIB owed billions of dollars to its 

investors. As government authorities investigated Stanford’s business, 

members of his inner circle provided detailed information outlining decades of 

fraud within the organization.

Jim Davis, SIB’s chief financial officer, stated that the company’s 

fraudulent practices stretched all the way back to the earliest days of the 

Guardian bank on Montserrat. Davis stated that he and Stanford actively 

misrepresented the financial picture of their company when inducing investors 

to purchase their CDs. Contrary to the company’s marketing materials 

regarding secure, conservative investments, a substantial portion of investor 

funds were actually appropriated by Stanford himself, who used them to 

finance his personal business ventures and opulent lifestyle. Working together, 

Stanford and Davis manipulated annual reports to show fake profit numbers 

to investors. In fact, Stanford sat atop a massive Ponzi scheme, using the funds 

from recent CD sales to pay investors holding matured certificates.1

Stanford also used investor funds to solidify his political position in 

Antigua, making loans to the government and paying bribes to its financial 

regulator, Leroy King. Antigua, in return, granted Stanford the title of “Sir 

 

1 Stanford questioned the use of this term at trial, but in the Fifth Circuit, a Ponzi 

scheme is one where the “swindler uses money from later victims to pay earlier victims,” 

which is the essence of Stanford’s CD business. United States v. Murray, 648 F.3d 251, 256 

(5th Cir. 2011).

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Allen Stanford.” Over a period of 16 years, Stanford employed a single 

Antiguan auditor to falsely certify the bank’s financial records. Stanford’s 

corruption of Antiguan officials also allowed him to impede SEC scrutiny of his 

organization, as King shared confidential SEC communications with him 

regarding potential investigative activities.

By 2008, Stanford was bilking approximately $1 million dollars per day 

from investors to finance his personal endeavors while simultaneously 

providing false assurances regarding the strength and solvency of the 

organization. Stanford’s bank’s inability to repay its investors in late 2008 and 

early 2009 promptly led to the collapse and exposure of his fraudulent financial 

empire. 

Prosecutors filed the original indictment on June 18, 2009. In September 

2009, Stanford was beaten by other inmates in the detention facility, 

sustaining severe injuries. He was subsequently deemed incompetent to stand 

trial and was admitted to a medical center for treatment and evaluation. While 

Stanford was in the treatment facility, prosecutors filed a superseding 

indictment on May 4, 2011. Stanford completed his treatment in November 

and the district court deemed him competent after a hearing in late December. 

Following a seven-week trial, a jury convicted Stanford on 13 of 14 counts and 

the district court sentenced him to 110 years in prison. He now appeals pro se.

DISCUSSION

I. Objection to jurisdiction

Stanford first asserts that the SEC did not have regulatory authority 

over SIB, which is an offshore institution located on the island of Antigua. This 

assertion forms the basis for Stanford’s claim that the district court lacked 

jurisdiction over the criminal case against him. We review jurisdictional 

questions de novo. United States v. Traxler, 764 F.3d 486, 488 (5th Cir. 2014).

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It is unnecessary to determine whether the SEC had regulatory 

authority over SIB, as neither the SEC nor SIB are parties to this criminal 

case. The district court had jurisdiction over Stanford’s case pursuant to 

18 U.S.C. § 3231. Stanford does not offer any reason why the district court 

would not have jurisdiction over him personally for the various federal criminal 

offenses with which he was charged. As a result, his objection fails.

II. Sufficiency of the Indictment

Stanford alleges several defects in the superseding indictment, raising 

these issues for the first time on appeal. Where a defendant raises new 

challenges to the sufficiency of the indictment on appeal, we review for plain 

error. United States v. Fuchs, 467 F.3d 889, 900 (5th Cir. 2006). First, Stanford 

states that the “[d]ates charged for the alleged fraudulent scheme in all Counts 

of the Indictment was [sic] not supported by the dates admitted in open court 

by the Government,” resulting in a “constructive amendment”2 of the 

indictment at trial. We disagree. 

A constructive amendment occurs when the government changes its 

theory at trial, allowing the jury to convict on a broader basis than that alleged 

in the indictment, or when the government proves an essential element of the 

crime on an alternate basis authorized by the statute but not charged in the 

indictment. United States v. Girod, 646 F.3d 304, 316 (5th Cir. 2011). An 

allegation as to the time of the offense is not an essential element. Id. Here, 

the fourteen counts of the superseding indictment alleged offenses between “in 

or about 1990” and “in or about February 2010.” Where the prosecution uses 

the “on or about” designation, the indictment is sufficient “if a date reasonably 

near is established.” United States v. Valdez, 453 F.3d 252, 260 (5th Cir. 2006).

 

2 As with a failure to challenge the sufficiency of an indictment, where a defendant 

alleges a constructive amendment for the first time on appeal, we review for plain error. 

United States v. Broadnax, 601 F.3d 336, 340 (5th Cir. 2010).

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The indictment notified Stanford of the precise nature and timeframe of each 

conspiracy and provided specific descriptions of the overt acts that furthered 

each conspiracy. Furthermore, counts two through six—relating to wire 

fraud—and counts seven through eleven—relating to mail fraud—alleged the 

approximate actual dates on which the offenses occurred and provided a 

contextual description of each illegal transaction. Matching documentary 

evidence proved these transactions at trial. The combination of approximate 

dates and specific contextual information for each allegation provided 

sufficient notice to Stanford, who has not demonstrated that he was “surprised 

or prejudiced in any way” by the dates in the indictment. See Girod, 646 F.3d 

at 317. 

Next, Stanford asserts that a “constructive amendment” occurred with 

respect to count four (wire fraud) when the government introduced evidence at 

trial confirming that the transaction in question involved a transfer of 

$700,000 of investor funds from Houston, Texas, to an SIB account in Canada, 

inconsistent with count four’s particularized description of a Houston-toHouston transfer.3 Stanford did not raise this argument during trial. Thus, we 

review the issue for plain error. See United States v. Scher, 601 F.3d 408, 411 

(5th Cir. 2010). On plain-error review, we will reverse only if “(1) there is an 

error, (2) that is clear or obvious, and (3) that affects [the defendant's] 

substantial rights.” United States v. Ferguson, 211 F.3d 878, 886 (5th Cir. 

2000). Even if these conditions are met, the decision whether to correct a 

forfeited error remains soundly within our discretion; and we exercise that 

discretion only if an error “seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity, or public 

 

3 In the superseding indictment, count four describes a “[w]ire transmission of 

approximately $700,000 from SGC account #4183 located in Houston, Texas, to an SIB 

account located in Houston, Texas, regarding Investor WJ’s purchase of SIB CDs.”

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reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 735-

36 (1993) (citation omitted).

A constructive amendment occurs “when an essential element of the 

offense is effectively modified during trial”; furthermore, “[t]he particular 

predicate for jurisdiction is an essential element of any federal offense.” United 

States v. Young, 730 F.2d 221, 224 (5th Cir. 1984). The elements of wire fraud 

under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 are “(1) a scheme to defraud and (2) the use of, or 

causing the use of, wire communications in furtherance of the scheme.” United 

States v. Simpson, 741 F.3d 539, 547-48 (5th Cir. 2014). The particular 

predicate for jurisdiction for wire fraud requires a “communication in 

interstate or foreign commerce.” 18 U.S.C. § 1343. The statute does not apply 

to purely intrastate communication. See Smith v. Ayres, 845 F.2d 1360, 1366 

(5th Cir. 1988).

As we have done in similar cases, here we assume without deciding that 

the first three requirements of plain error are met. See United States v. 

McGilberry, 480 F.3d 326, 331-32 (5th Cir. 2007). Thus, we turn directly to the 

fourth prong and ask whether any error seriously affected “the fairness, 

integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. at 332 (citation 

omitted). We conclude it did not. The transmission that provided the basis of 

Stanford’s conviction on count four “could have properly been charged in the 

indictment and is prohibited by statute.” United States v. Daniels, 252 F.3d 

411, 414 (5th Cir. 2001); see United States v. Reyes, 102 F.3d 1361, 1365 (5th 

Cir. 1996) (declining to exercise discretion to correct a constructive 

amendment, under plain error review, in part because the offense upon which 

the jury was charged could have been charged in the indictment). In addition, 

count four identifies Stanford’s fraudulent conduct as a wire transmission and 

identifies the date of its occurrence, the dollar amount in question, and the 

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specific account number and financial institution from which the funds were 

taken. Thus, he cannot creditably claim that the indictment did not provide 

sufficient detail about the transmission to put him on notice of what he would 

be required to defend against. We conclude, therefore, that to the extent that 

the government’s evidence and argument concerning a Houston-to-Canada 

transaction amended the indictment, that error did not seriously affect the 

fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings. Hence we 

decline to exercise our discretion to correct the alleged error.

In a similar vein, Stanford asserts that, with respect to the mail fraud 

counts, the superseding indictment lacked particularity because the counts 

“did not include any specific and identifiable characteristics other than mere 

dates.” Each count—in addition to the date—also identified the place of origin, 

commercial interstate carrier, and place of delivery for each package. The 

counts thus were neither “vague” nor “indefinite.” See Simpson, 741 F.3d at 

548. Stanford’s challenge fails under a plain error review.

Stanford next challenges the superseding indictment on grounds of 

multiplicity and duplicity. Stanford did not raise these objections before trial,

as required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12(b)(3), and so they are

forfeited. See United States v. Creech, 408 F.3d 264, 270 (5th Cir. 2005) 

(duplicity); United States v. Dixon, 273 F.3d 636, 642 (5th Cir. 2001)

(multiplicity). 

Finally, Stanford challenges the superseding indictment’s “incorporation 

by reference” of allegations in the original indictment. Because Stanford did 

not raise this challenge before the district court, we review for plain error. 

Fuchs, 467 F.3d at 900. Allegations made in one count may be incorporated by 

reference in another count. Fed. R. Crim P. 7(c)(1). Such incorporation must be 

express. United States v. Hajecate, 683 F.2d 894, 901 (5th Cir. 1982). Here, 

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paragraph 38i. of the superseding indictment states that “[t]he acts alleged in 

Count Two through Count 18 of the Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated 

herein as additional overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy and to achieve 

the objects and purpose thereof.” Because the incorporation is expressly stated, 

the indictment is not defective and Stanford’s challenge fails under plain error 

review.

III. Denial of Continuance

Stanford asserts that the district court erred in denying his motion for 

continuance and related motion for reconsideration. District courts have broad 

discretion whether to grant continuances and we review only for an abuse of 

discretion resulting in serious prejudice to the defendant. United States v. 

German, 486 F.3d 849, 854 (5th Cir. 2007). When reviewing the denial of a 

continuance, we consider the totality of the circumstances. United States v. 

Stalnaker, 571 F.3d 428, 439 (5th Cir. 2009). 

Responding to Stanford’s motions, the district court noted that Stanford 

was represented by an extensive legal team throughout the two-and-one-half 

year period preceding the trial; that the government maintained an open 

discovery file accessible by the defense team from the inception of the case; and 

that Stanford was medically competent to assist in his defense at least twoand-one-half months before his trial, if not earlier. The district court also 

appropriately considered factors such as escalating expenses and the interest 

of the public and the victims in efficient resolution of the case. In sum, the 

record clearly establishes that Stanford was well-represented by a competent 

and experienced defense team that had ample opportunity to consult on the 

case, review all documentary evidence, and prepare for trial. As a result, under 

the totality of the circumstances, we find that the district court neither abused 

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its discretion nor prejudiced Stanford in denying his motion for continuance

and associated motion for reconsideration. 

IV. Double Jeopardy

Stanford asserts that the simultaneous civil and criminal cases based on 

the same underlying events subjected him to double jeopardy. At trial, the 

district court denied his motion on these grounds. We review denials of motions 

to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds de novo. See United States v. Jones, 733 

F.3d 574, 579-80 (5th Cir. 2013). The Double Jeopardy Clause protects against 

the imposition of “multiple criminal punishments for the same offense” and 

only when “such occurs in successive proceedings.” Hudson v. United States, 

522 U.S. 93, 99 (1997). Here, there are no successive proceedings to speak of, 

as the SEC’s civil action against Stanford was stayed until after resolution of 

the criminal case. SEC v. Stanford, 3:09-CV-298 (N.D. Tex.) (dkt entry #948). 

Even so, Stanford argues that the receiver’s sale and liquidation of various 

assets before trial constituted “punishment” for purposes of double jeopardy.

This court has held that a receiver is a “private, non-governmental entity, and 

is not the Government for the purpose of the Double Jeopardy Clause.” United 

States v. Beszborn, 21 F.3d 62, 68 (5th Cir. 1994). There is no evidence that the 

receiver performed any functions other than those necessary to manage 

Stanford’s failed financial institutions. As a result, the receiver is a private 

individual, and the Double Jeopardy Clause “does not apply to actions 

involving private individuals.” Id. at 67.

V. Denial of Suppression Motion

Stanford next asserts that the district court erred in denying his motion 

to suppress evidence under the Fourth Amendment. On appeal of such a 

denial, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, and 

we review factual findings for clear error and legal conclusions de novo. See 

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United States v. Stevens, 487 F.3d 232, 238 (5th Cir. 2007). Stanford argues 

that the receivership order issued by the Northern District of Texas in a 

separate civil proceeding was used as a general warrant or writ of assistance 

by law enforcement and that the receiver was effectively an agent of 

government investigators, employed to circumvent the Fourth Amendment. 

The mere fact of simultaneous civil and criminal proceedings is insufficient to 

establish an impermissible commingling of the two. See United States v. 

Posada Carriles, 541 F.3d 344, 354 (5th Cir. 2008). Rather, we have held that 

there must be an element of impropriety such as “[d]eception as to the purpose 

of the investigation, . . . using otherwise meaningless civil proceedings as a 

pretext for acquiring evidence for a criminal prosecution, [or] taking advantage 

of a person who does not have counsel,” to invalidate the prosecution. United 

States v. Setser, 568 F.3d 482, 493 (5th Cir. 2009). Other than the receiver’s 

routine provision of materials and documents to government investigators 

upon request, Stanford fails to offer any evidence of improper concerted action 

between the receiver and the government, and a receiver in proper possession 

of property may turn it over to law enforcement without a warrant. United 

States v. Gray, 751 F.2d 733, 737 (5th Cir. 1985). Therefore, we find no error

in the district court’s denial of the suppression motion. 

VI. Responses to Jury Notes

Stanford asserts that the district court erred when it provided a 

definition of the word “scheme” to the jury. A district court’s response to a jury 

note is considered a jury instruction. United States v. Ramos-Cardenas, 524 

F.3d 600, 610 (5th Cir. 2008). Where defense objected to the instruction at trial, 

we review for abuse of discretion, subject to a harmless-error analysis. Id. 

Here, the jury requested a definition of the word “scheme” in the context of 

“scheme to defraud” included in the pattern jury instructions. The government

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proposed “design or plan,” while the defense proposed “design or plan formed 

to accomplish some purpose.” The district court provided the definition “design 

or plan” over defense objection. The district court had previously defined

“scheme to defraud” to the jury as “any scheme to deprive another of money or 

property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or 

promises.” As a result, the district court’s jury note response effectively defined 

“scheme to defraud” as “any [design or plan] to deprive another of money or 

property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or 

promises.” The district court’s instructions will be affirmed on appeal “if the 

charge in its entirety presents the jury with a reasonably accurate picture of 

the law.” United States v. Jones, 132 F.3d 232, 243 (5th Cir. 1998). The

definition given by the district court gives an accurate picture of the law, and 

therefore we find no abuse of discretion or error. On appeal, Stanford raises an 

additional argument, suggesting that the word “scheme” itself was unfairly 

prejudicial. This argument is without merit, as the word “scheme” is written 

into the statutory definitions of the charged offenses and must necessarily be 

presented to the jury through evidence, instruction, and argument.

Stanford also asserts that the court erred in defining “CDO” as a 

“collateralized debt obligation.” Jury Note 3, submitted to the court, stated that

“Government Exhibit 1149 Item Number 3 refers to ‘CDO’ products. What is 

the meaning of ‘CDO’?” The government proposed responding with 

“collateralized debt obligation,” a simple recitation of the words within the 

acronym, while the defense proposed responding with “collaterized debt 

obligations, like sub-prime loans.” The district court, noting the defense’s 

objection, provided the definition tendered by the government. Stanford claims 

that the district court’s instruction to the jury was inadequate and thereby 

violated his Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial. We disagree. Applying the 

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Jones standard above, we find neither abuse of discretion nor error where the 

court responded to the jury note with an accurate definition of the acronym in 

question.

VII. Application of Sentencing Enhancements

At trial, Stanford objected to the Presentencing Report (“PSR”) based on 

general factual disputes. The district court’s application of the guidelines is 

reviewed de novo, and its factual findings are reviewed for clear error. See 

United States v. Umawa Oke Imo, 739 F.3d 226, 240 (5th Cir. 2014). Factual 

findings need only be found by a preponderance of the evidence and plausible 

in light of the entire record. See United States v. Simpson, 741 F.3d 539, 556-

57 (5th Cir. 2014). 

Stanford’s objections to the enhancements are based on his claims that 

they were not sufficiently demonstrated by the evidence introduced at trial.

Specifically, Stanford claims that the evidence failed to establish (1) an amount 

of loss more than $400 million; (2) that he endangered the solvency of a 

financial institution; (3) that there were 250 or more victims; (4) that he 

relocated his scheme to evade regulatory authorities; or (5) that he abused a 

position of trust. The record includes ample testimonial and documentary 

evidence to establish each of these facts. First, the receiver provided financial 

records showing that SIB owed $5.9 billion to its investors, plus interest. 

Second, this debt substantially jeopardized the safety and soundness of SIB, 

which became insolvent. Third, at the time of trial the government had 

identified 672 unique victims of the fraud. Fourth, testimony showed that 

Stanford relocated his scheme from Montserrat to Antigua to avoid regulators. 

Fifth, Stanford, the chief executive officer of SIB, used his position to defraud 

SIB and its investors to finance his personal endeavors, bribe officials, and 

obstruct investigations. In short, sufficient evidence supports each of the 

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enhancements applied by the court, and we find no clear error in the factual 

findings of the court or error in interpretation of the guidelines. Finally, at 

sentencing, Stanford objected to his sentence on the basis of substantive and 

procedural due process and the Eighth Amendment. He renews that objection 

now, arguing that the district court violated due process and his right to a fair 

trial by “piling on the points.” Stanford fails to cite specific facts or authority 

in support of his argument. In any case, the court’s sentence of 110 years fell 

within the 230-year sentence authorized by the sentencing guidelines and is 

therefore presumed reasonable. See United States v. Campos-Maldonado, 531

F.3d 337, 338 (5th Cir. 2008). Stanford has failed to overcome this presumption 

and we see no error in the district court’s exercise of discretion in determining 

an appropriate sentence.

For the first time on appeal, Stanford raises new objections to the 

application of the sentencing enhancements in his case based on Apprendi v. 

New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), and Alleyne v. United States, 133 S. Ct. 2151 

(2013), both of which relate to increases in statutory penalties. Because 

Stanford failed to raise this issue before the district court, we review only for 

plain error. United States v. Wallace, 759 F.3d 486, 497 (5th Cir. 2014). In 

Apprendi, the Supreme court held that facts which would increase the 

statutory maximum penalty for an offense must be submitted to the jury and 

proved beyond a reasonable doubt. 530 U.S. at 490. In Alleyne, the Supreme 

Court logically extended this holding to facts which would increase mandatory 

minimum sentences. 133 S. Ct. at 2155. Both are inapplicable to the present 

case. None of the offenses here carried mandatory minimums, nor did the 

district court impose any punishments in excess of the statutory maximums. 

Rather, the district court accepted the PSR recommendation and adjudged a 

sentence within the statutorily authorized range. Neither Apprendi nor 

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Alleyne applies to sentencing guidelines. See United States v. Hinojosa, 749 

F.3d 407, 412-13 (5th Cir. 2014). Therefore, his argument is without merit and 

we find no error.

VIII. Allegation of Partiality

Stanford claims that he was deprived of both due process under the Fifth 

Amendment and a fair trial under the Sixth Amendment because the district 

court was partial to the government throughout the trial process. More 

specifically, Stanford claims that the district court disqualified his counsel of 

choice; improperly deemed him competent to stand trial; and made numerous 

adverse rulings against him and in favor of the government.

Stanford first claims that he was denied his “counsel of choice” to 

represent him in his criminal case. We review the district court’s decision to 

disallow substitute counsel for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Jones, 

733 F.3d 574, 587 (5th Cir. 2013). In 2009, Stanford sought access to the 

proceeds of a Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy held by his 

company (“D&O Policy”), in order to fund his defense. At the time, the D&O

Policy was subject to the asset freeze imposed by the Northern District of 

Texas, which had jurisdiction over the civil proceedings. As a result, Stanford 

made a motion to permit Michael Sydow (“Sydow”) to appear in the criminal 

case “for the limited purpose of resolving whether Mr. Stanford will be granted 

access to monies to pay for his legal fees and expenses.” The district court 

denied Stanford’s motion and this court denied his petition for a writ of 

mandamus because the D&O Policy itself was the subject of simultaneous civil 

proceedings. See generally Pendergest-Holt v. Certain Underwriters, 600 F.3d 

562 (5th Cir. 2010). Therefore, we find no abuse of discretion in the denial of

Sydow’s limited appearance in the criminal case because the same issue was 

already being litigated in a different forum. 

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Stanford also claims he was denied his counsel of choice when a separate

attorney, Stephen Cochell (“Cochell”), was denied “in-person access” to him at 

the detention center. In fact, Cochell was representing Stanford in a civil case, 

rather than the criminal case, and the district court found that his public 

statements about Stanford might impact the criminal prosecution and 

impending jury trial. Therefore, we find no abuse of discretion in the court’s 

order to preclude Cochell from in-person access to Stanford prior to the 

criminal trial, because Cochell was not part of the criminal defense team.

Stanford next challenges the district court’s order finding him competent 

to stand trial. The standard applied on review is whether the district court’s 

finding of competence was “clearly arbitrary or unwarranted.” United States v. 

Dockins, 986 F.2d 888, 890 (5th Cir. 1993). Here, the district court initially 

found that Stanford was unable to effectively and rationally assist his 

attorneys and ordered him committed to the custody of the Attorney General 

to undergo medical treatment on January 26, 2011. Stanford’s condition at the 

time primarily arose from head injuries he sustained in a prison assault in 

September 2009 and his subsequent overmedication. Stanford entered 

treatment at the Bureau of Prisons Federal Medical Center in Butner, North 

Carolina (“FMC Butner”) on February 18, 2011. On November 4, 2011, after 

eight months of evaluation and treatment, the Mental Health Department at 

FMC Butner deemed Stanford competent to stand trial. In late December 2011, 

the district court held a comprehensive competency hearing lasting two-andone-half days. After reviewing all of the medical evaluations submitted by both 

parties, weighing the credibility and reliability of all expert testimony 

presented, and considering all other testimony and arguments, the district 

court found that FMC Butner successfully withdrew Stanford from his 

prescription drug dependence; that Stanford possessed the necessary cognitive 

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ability to assist his counsel; and that reliable scientific evidence demonstrated 

that Stanford was feigning retrograde amnesia. The district court further 

highlighted the extensive and comprehensive period of evaluation conducted 

by the impartial staff of FMC Butner over a period of eight months, prior to 

their determination of competency and release. Finally, the district court noted 

that throughout the seven-week-long trial Stanford was attentive, fully 

engaged with counsel, and actively made notes and reviewed exhibits, further 

demonstrating his competency to stand trial.

Upon review, we first note that the initial determination of incompetency

was based in large part on Stanford’s prescription-medication dependence, 

from which he was successfully withdrawn before December 2011. Second, 

before the district court hearing, Stanford was deemed competent by the 

medical staff of FMC Butner, who had engaged in extensive observation and 

treatment of Stanford over an eight-month period. Finally, Stanford actively 

participated in an intensive, seven-week long trial without any indication of 

cognitive difficulty. In conclusion, we do not find that the district court’s 

determination was arbitrary or unwarranted. 

Stanford concludes his challenge to the impartiality of the district court 

by alleging favoritism towards the government on various jury charges and 

evidentiary rulings. Stanford’s objections fail for inadequate briefing, lacking 

citations to authority and the record and failing to explain why relief is 

merited. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 225 (5th Cir. 1993). As we have 

stated previously, “we liberally construe the briefs of pro se appellants” but we 

“also require that arguments must be briefed to be preserved.” Id. For example, 

Stanford objects to the district court’s rulings on jury charges but does not 

identify which jury charges were improper or why. Stanford further claims he 

was precluded from offering various rebuttal evidence but does not identify 

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where in the record such adverse rulings occurred. Stanford concludes this 

portion of his argument by stating that “[i]n short, through the court’s rulings 

in Motions in Limine and its later rulings, the Government was permitted to 

conceal from the jurors, the fact that SIB was a foreign bank . . . .” Yet the trial 

record reveals that the government freely revealed this fact to the jury. Based 

on all of the foregoing, we find no evidence that the district court was partial 

to the government in derogation of Stanford’s right to a fair trial under the 

Constitution.

IX. Cumulative Error 

Stanford concludes by asserting the cumulative error doctrine, 

“[a]dopting herein all arguments, facts and authority within this brief.” As 

Stanford has failed to explain or identify any specific errors on which his 

argument is based, his claim is waived for inadequate briefing. Yohey, 985 F.2d 

at 225.

X. Brady Claims

In various portions of his brief, Stanford asserts that the government

failed to provide him with exculpatory evidence in violation of Brady v. 

Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). Specifically, Stanford states that the “sheer 

quantity of dumped data [provided by the government] could not be fully 

assessed by the Defense under the circumstances.” We have previously rejected 

such “open file” Brady claims where the government provided the defense with 

an electronic and searchable database of records, absent some showing that 

the government acted in bad faith or used the file to obscure exculpatory 

material. See United States v. Skilling, 554 F.3d 529, 577 (5th Cir. 2009), 

vacated on other grounds, 561 U.S. 358 (2010). Stanford has provided no other 

information in support of his claim that could provide the basis for a Brady

violation.

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XI. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM. 

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