LOUISVILLE Ky.
A $1 million endowed chair at Florida A&M Law school could become central to the trial of three Kentucky lawyers on wire fraud charges that they bilked clients out of millions in a settlement over the diet drug fen-phen.
Federal prosecutors said they may use evidence that attorney Shirley Cunningham Jr., a co-owner of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin, used money taken from clients to endow the chair, which is the subject of a separate investigation.
Cunningham, William Gallion and Melbourne Mills Jr. are currently in jail awaiting trial on charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud. A state court judge has ruled that the three men owe more than 440 clients at least $42 million.
The motions concerning Florida A&M were among a flurry of filings as the case moves toward a trial scheduled for January.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Voorhees said in one motion that evidence would show the $1 million gift came from fen-phen funds from clients.
“Therefore, it is relevant evidence of the execution of the fraud,” Voorhees wrote.
