Edwards has pre-sentence meeting with investigator

Kevin McGill

Monday, May 22, 2000 | 12:03 p.m.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Edwin Edwards met for two hours Monday with an investigator who is gathering information for the former governor's sentencing on federal fraud and racketeering charges.

"It's just part of the process of acquiring information about where I was born, family relationships, that sort of thing," Edwards said afterward.

Edwards was convicted May 9 on 17 counts of racketeering, extortion and fraud for rigging three riverboat casino licenses. His son Stephen and three codefendants also were convicted on various charges; two other men were aquitted on all counts against them.

Since Edwards is 72, a sentence of any length could mean Edwards will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Edwards still faces trial this summer on charges accusing him of helping rig a sweetheart deal for a failed insurance company. Prosecutors say he worked with Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown and former State District Judge A. Foxy Sanders to arrange the deal for Cascade Insurance Co. owner David Disiere.

Edwards said he has no plans to make a deal with the federal government for lenience in that case. Pressed on that issue, he said, "I would never say never."

He said he is looking forward to the Cascade trial: "I'm convinced it's going to give me an opportunity to vindicate myself."

Asked how his family is dealing with the possibility of his going to prison, Edwards said, "This has brought us closer together."

He said he appreciates the support he has gotten from both his wife, Candy, and ex-wife, Elaine.

He said so far no restrictions have been placed on him except he was told he cannot own a firearm. He said he had given his firearms to Ducks Unlimited a year ago because he had nowhere to keep them.

Edwards, clad in dark slacks and a bright red short-sleeved shirt, appeared fit and said his health is good.

"Good health at my age is most important. If you can look forward to jumping out of bed rather than falling out of bed you're doing OK."