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UPDATE: Jury seated in Tacker case
by Patsy R. Brumfield/NEMS Daily Journal
Feb 22, 2010 | 1585 views | 3 3 comments | 17 17 recommendations | email to a friend | print
ABERDEEN – Eight women and four men hold Tommy Tacker's fate in their hands.

The 12-member jury was seated shortly after noon today in the U.S. government's case against the biodiesel businessman.

The trial has recessed until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Tacker, 56, of Okolona is accused of conspiracy, fraud and aiding and abetting to defraud nearly $3 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corp. as part of its biofuels subsidy program.

Judge Glen H. Davidson excused the jury for lunch about 12:20 p.m. They went to work about 2 p.m. when opening statements from both sides started.

Tacker has pleaded not guilty and insists he was nothing more than the man who operated the now-defunct plant in Nettleton. His partner, disbarred Tennessee attorney H. Max Speight, pleaded guilty earlier this month and is likely to testify for the prosecution.

Tacker is represented by Robert "Chip" Davis and Rhett Wise of Tupelo.

This morning, 12 jurors and two alternates were selected from a pool of 52 North Mississippi residents.

The trial is expected to continue until at least Wednesday.

If convicted on all counts, Tacker faces up to 50 years in prison and $2.5 million in fines.

• Read Tuesday's Daily Journal for more details.

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