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Laffitte is one of several people investigators said were ensnared by Murdaugh as from his law firm and clients in wrongful death and serious injury cases.

Murdaugh is serving a life sentence for the killings of his wife and son in 2021. While admitting to the thefts, he adamantly denies the killings and is appealing his .

The deal Laffitte made in state court requires him to serve eight years in prison with the sentence running at the same time as the five-year sentence in federal court.

Laffitte could get enough credits for good behavior and complete the requirements of his state sentence before he gets out of federal prison. The 54-year-old also is getting credit for time he has served under house arrest since May 2022.

Before the hearing, prosecutors said Laffitte sold bank stock to pay $3.5 million in restitution.

Laffitte did not speak beyond answering the judge's questions Thursday. Prosecutors laid out the facts of his schemes. No victims spoke, but they will have time to address the judge at Laffitte's state sentencing on Oct. 13.

Laffitte to federal bank and wire fraud charges this spring after similar convictions in a jury trial were overturned by an appeals court last year. His sentencing in that case is expected Monday in Charleston.

After the original federal trial, Laffitte was sentenced to seven years in prison and began serving that sentence when his

Laffitte and Murdaugh were both from prominent families around tiny Laffitte’s family built Palmetto State Bank, which was so well regarded that the Independent Banks of South Carolina honored Laffitte as the banker of the year in 2019.

But that sterling reputation also helped Laffitte and Murdaugh steal, prosecutors said.

Laffitte became the court-appointed safekeeper of settlement money for some of Murdaugh’s , including children who lost their parents, investigators said.

Prosecutors said Laffitte collected as much as $450,000 in untaxable fees for moving the money. He also sent large checks from the settlement accounts to Murdaugh, who was juggling mounting debts he would later blame on an opioid addiction.

Laffitte’s 2022 conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court. They ruled the trial judge had interviewed a juror during deliberations without lawyers or Laffitte in the room. violating his constitutional right to an impartial jury.