Stanford attempts to surrender in Texas

By Anna Driver

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Allen Stanford, the Texas billionaire facing civil fraud charges, attempted to turn himself in at the federal courthouse in Houston on Thursday, but was turned away because there is no warrant for his arrest, his lawyer said.

"There are all these rumors flying around about an indictment coming soon," said Dick DeGuerin, Stanford's criminal attorney. "We want the authorities to know that Allen Stanford is going to stand and fight, he's not going to run."

Stanford and DeGuerin went to the federal courthouse Thursday afternoon, but the U.S. Marshals would not take Stanford into custody, the lawyer said.

Stanford, who does not face criminal charges, but has said he expects to be indicted, will try to turn himself in again next week, DeGuerin said.

"I said to the marshals, if you get a warrant, give me a call," DeGuerin said.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Houston could not immediately be reached for comment.

Stanford, two other executives and three of his companies are accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of an $8 billion fraud involving high-yield certificates of deposit issued by Stanford International Bank in Antigua.

Stanford, a colorful financier and sports patron who owns luxury homes in the Caribbean and Florida, told Reuters in an interview earlier this month that he has done nothing wrong.