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Laura Pendergest-Holt, former chief investment officer for R. Allen Stanford's now defunct financial empire, right, and attorney Chris Flood arrive at the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Melissa Phillip)
Holt was chief investment officer at Stanford Financial Group based out of Memphis, with offices in Tupelo, when the entire Stanford financial empire came crashing down in 2009 under the weight of a federal investigation.
Her boss, R. Allen Stanford, was convicted last March of masterminding the scheme, which cost worldwide investors $7.2 billion. He is serving a 110-year prison sentence.
In a deal with the government, Holt pleaded guilty June 21 to one count and faces up to five years in prison. Her deal recommends three years.
She’ll appear before District Judge David Hittner for a 9:45 a.m. hearing in Houston, where Stanford built his empire.
Co-defendants Mark Kuhrt and Gilbert Lopez, former Stanford executives, are set for trial there starting Sept. 28.
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