Accused fraudster R. Allen Stanford "intends to fight" the civil charges against him, and is the victim of "unconstitutional" conduct by the federal government. Those words are in a letter to Stanford's employees—obtained by CNBC—written by Kathy Stoelker, the mother of Stanford's girlfriend.
It was at Stoelker's home in Fredericksburg, VA, where authorities finally caught up with Stanford in February, after the Securities and Exchange Commission charged him with a "massive" fraud. Stanford, a high-flying multi-billionaire based in Houston, allegedly sold $8 billion worth of fraudulent certificates of deposit from his bank in the Caribbean nation of Antigua.
Stoelker tells CNBC she decided to write the letter after being contacted by several Stanford employees. In the letter, dated April 13, Stoelker stresses that she does not speak for Stanford, who is keeping silent "due to legal advice." But she writes, "Allen is heartbroken over what has happened. He is so saddened by the loss of the companies which you all formed."
She notes that while Stanford has not been charged with any crime, all of his assets have been frozen, preventing him from paying for a legal defense.
"I believe that what our government has done is unconstitutional," Stoelker writes. "They have decimated over 40 companies in two months based solely on allegations and have yet to bring any criminal charges."
Stoelker suggests Stanford is innocent. "There is no Ponzi scheme and this will be verified in the days ahead," she writes. But she blames Stanford's former Chief Financial Officer, James Davis, for the scandal, calling him "evil."
Davis, who has also not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing, is cooperating with federal prosecutors investigating Stanford, according to Davis' attorney.
Stoelker's letter offers an e-mail address where employees can send messages of support. She tells CNBC more than 80 employees have sent messages thus far.
But many of those employees have some new problems of their own. On Wednesday, the court-appointed receiver in the case sued 66 former Stanford financial advisors, seeking to recover $40 million in commissions they received for selling the CD's.
