by Mike Caswell. Cmkx news
A Nevada judge has ordered a mental competency evaluation for John Edwards, one of the alleged masterminds of the massive CMKM Diamonds Inc. fraud. Lawyers for Mr. Edwards sought the evaluation earlier this month, saying that Mr. Edwards had suffered a series of medical events in prison that pointed to a deterioration in the 73-year-old's mental health. They said that Mr. Edwards's condition was such that he was no longer able to assist in his defence.
The evaluation order comes with Mr. Edwards awaiting trial on charges that he and others, including Canada's Urban Casavant, ran a two-year pump-and-dump with CMKM that peaked in 2004. Prosecutors claim that the men sold hundreds of billions of unregistered shares during the scheme. In all they reaped $60-million in illegal profits, according to the government. (All figures are in U.S. dollars.)
The competency evaluation order, handed down on May 23, 2016, specifies that a Bureau of Prisons examiner must see Mr. Edwards over 45 days to determine his fitness for trial. The examiner must verify that Mr. Edwards is able to understand the proceedings against him and assist properly in his defence.
