A former secretary for Mark Shelnutt's former law firm testified in federal court Thursday afternoon that the Columbus attorney was "like my big brother."
Joanna Strickland worked for Shelnutt's firm for about 15 years. She was put on the stand by the prosecution to describe, in part, a financial transaction she made through her personal Wachovia bank account on June 30, 2006.
Shelnutt faces a 40-count indictment in U.S. District Court. The charges include aiding and abetting a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, money laundering, witness tampering and attempted bribery. The trial, which is expected to last two weeks or more, started Monday.
After Strickland's testimony U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land adjourned the court for the day.
That day in June, Strickland said she had "a strange conversation" with Shelnutt. He asked her to deposit $7,000 in cash in her personal account and write a check back to him, she told the jury. He gave her the money in a Sirius radio box, she said.
"I have never held that much money," she said.
About 30 minutes after making the deposit, she wrote Shelnutt a $6,500 check.
"Mr. Shelnutt gave me $500 to help with my daughter's wedding," she said. "... He said if anyone asked questions say you cashed a CD and mutual funds."
In July 2008, Strickland received a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury that was hearing testimony about Shelnutt.
Strickland told Shelnutt she received the subpoena.
"His response was 'oh, my God; oh, my God; oh, my God,'" she said.
Strickland said Shelnutt repeatedly told her it was a loan after learning of the subpoena, she testified.
Land asked Strickland if Shelnutt made any threats against her.
"No, he just kept repeating this was a loan," she told the judge.
One of the counts in the indictment involves witness tampering. After Strickland's testimony, Land asked lead prosecutor Carlton Bourne if this was going to be all of the evidence on the witness tampering charge, to which he responed it would.
Defense attorney Thomas Withers pointed out that Strickland's testimony in front of the grand jury changed. She originally told the grand jury the amount of the transaction was $5,000. She changed her testimony after reviewing her bank records.
Convicted drug dealer Torrance Hill spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon on the witness stand.
Shelnutt's May 21 indictment alleges a connection between Hill, who pleaded guilty to drug charges in 2006 and was sentenced to 24 1/2 years in prison. Hill, who ran one of the largest drug organizations in the history of the Columbus, was on the witness stand more than four hours. He endured a lengthy cross examination by defense attorney Thomas Withers when U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land ordered a break.
Hill told jurors his drug organization, which was connected to the Guzman Cartel in Mexico, was making about "$9 million a month."
"I was selling hundreds of kilos of cocaine," Hill said.
Shelnutt had represented Hill on state and federal drug charges dating back to 1999.
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