More facts have come to light in the shooting death of Steve McNair. Police yesterday ruled the death a homicide, a fairly obvious conclusion given that McNair was shot twice in the head and twice in the stomach. The remaining question is whether the single shot in the head of McNair's girlfriend resulted from another homicide or a suicide.

One of the factual uncertainties noted in our original post -- that the presence of a gun was not immediately apparent when the police arrived -- has been resolved by news that the gun was found under the girlfriend's dead body. Evidence in support of the murder-suicide theory became stronger today as police revealed a report that the girlfriend purchased a gun a couple of days before she was found dead. While the police have wisely refrained from jumping to conclusions, this increasingly looks like a tragic case of murder-suicide.

Steve McNair, quarterback for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and briefly for the Baltimore Ravens before his recent retirement, was shot to death today inside a condominium in downtown Nashville. A 20-year-old woman, Sahel Kazemi, was found dead next to McNair. She died of a single gunshot to the head.

Details of the deaths are unclear. McNair rented the condo with his friend, Wayne Neeley, who found the bodies. Neely described Kazemi as a "friend" of McNair. The Tennessean describes the deaths as a "murder-suicide" and reports that McNair had been dating Kazemi for a few months. It also reports that a pistol was found next to Kazemi's body, although Neeley (according to the AP) said that "the gun was not 'readily apparent' when police first arrived."

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Jeralyn wisely decided not to write about "the DEA jumping into the Michael Jackson death investigation (ridiculous)" but I have no shame. According to this article, "the agency's involvement in the Jackson case suggests authorities are looking into whether drugs came from out of state." It's more likely (as the article also notes) that the DEA is interested in the conduct of Jackson's physicians.

According to the article, a criminal investigation could focus on whether prescription medications played a role in Jackson's death, and if so, whether doctors overprescribed medication, prescribed drugs he didn't need, or wrote prescriptions for Jackson under an assumed name. Ultimately, the most likely explanation for the DEA's involvement is that Jackson was a high profile celebrity, making the investigation a fun digression from the routine pursuit of drug smugglers and dealers.

Given the possibility of a criminal investigation, LAPD is taking heat for its failure to secure the scene of Jackson's death. [more ...]

The U.S. Marshal's today "seized" Bernie and Ruth Madoff's Park Ave. apartment, which they agreed to forfeit to the Government. The Marshal's served Ruth with a "Notice to Vacate."

This was by agreement (pdf) which provided that Ruth would vacate by Bernie's sentencing date or such other time as the parties agreed to in writing. Only once she's vacated the apartment, does she get her $2.5 million cash from the Government.

So, she's not being tossed unexpectedly onto the street.

U.S. District Court Judge David Hittner today reversed the magistrate court judge's order granting bail to indicted financier Allen Stanford. (Background here and here.)

Stanford's lawyers say they will appeal to the 5th Circuit.

Bump and Update: Bernie Madoff has been sentenced to 150 years in prison. The probation report had recommended 50 years. He is likely to do his time in a medium security prison. Possibilities, according to prison expert Alan Ellis: "FCI Otisville or FCI Ray Brook, both in upstate New York, FCI Fairton in New Jersey or FCI McKean in Pennsylvania."

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Sentencing Day for Bernie Madoff

Bernard Madoff will be sentenced today. The government is seeking 150 years. The defense is seeking 12 years, arguing that considering his age, it's an effective life sentence. Ruth Madoff has agreed to forfeit around $80 million (including the Park Ave coop, the Montauk home and the Palm Beach home) in exchange for $2.5 million.

Here are the relevant pleadings:

• Bernie's response to Government sentencing position
  
• Government Sentencing Position
• Bernie's Sentencing Position
• Ruth Madoff Forfeiture Agreement

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A federal judge in Houston today rejected the Government's motion for pre-trial detention and ordered financier Allen Stanford released on bond. The order was stayed until Friday so the Government can appeal.

"There are no conditions that will guarantee this defendant's appearance in court," Pelletier said. "This case demands pretrial detention."

That's not the test. The standard is whether there are conditions that will "reasonably assure" not guarantee a defendant's appearance.

Dick DeGuerin, Stanford's lawyer, told the court the feds seized everything from him, including his underwear [More...]:

Bernie Madoff is scheduled to be sentenced June 29. His lawyers are requesting a sentence of less than life in prison for the 71 year old financier. They request 12 years, or a 15 to 20 year sentence. They say he has a life expectancy of about 13 years.

You can read his lawyers' letter here (pdf.) In the letter, they attach life expectancy information and data on the sentences in other fraud cases.

The Government has filed 140 pages of e-mails and letters from victims.

Singer Chris Brown pleaded guilty today to a felony and was sentenced to five years probation with 180 hours of community service for the assault on his then girlfriend, singer Rhianna.

As part of the plea deal, Brown was also ordered to attend 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and surrender any fire arms within 24 hours. Brown must also submit a DNA sample.

His probation will be no walk in the park. And the felony will stay with him. Rhianna's lawyer says she is satisfied with the plea deal.

Billionaire financier Allen Stamford has been under investigation for months and represented by Dick DeGuerin of Houston, one of the country's best criminal defense lawyers. Yesterday, the Government chose to unseal the indictment against him, while he was in Virginia. The FBI knew exactly where he was -- at his girlfriend's home -- and arrested him there.

Today, Stanford appeared in court in Virginia and the Government announced it was seeking detention. The court ordered him held without bond until his detention hearing, which will be in Houston.

So Stanford, who is presumed innocent, will spend at least the weekend, and probably more, in jail waiting to be flown by the U.S. Marshal's Service to Houston. [More...]

Update: The police have arrested the four men in the Escalade.

Colorado experienced its first major medical marijuana dispensary robbery today. New Options Wellness in Boulder was robbed at gunpoint around this afternoon. There were no injuries but everything was taken. [More...]

Shwawna Ford, the National Executive Director of a local the Minuteman American Defense group (M.A.D.) has been arrested for a double killing, that of a 9 year old and her father, during a home invasion last month.

According to authorities, Bush, [MAD leader Shawna] Forde, and Gaxiola broke into the home of the Flores family just after midnight on May 30th. At the time, the mother, father and daughter were home. The invaders reportedly shot the three members of the Flores family, killing the father, Raul, and the daughter, Brisenia. The invaders then left the scene.[More...]