The Banker Behind Murdaugh: Russell Laffitte Sentenced — The Money Trail That Enabled a Killer | 2025 True Crime

Alex Murdaugh didn’t commit his crimes alone — and today, one of his most essential enablers is finally facing real consequences. In this explosive Hidden Killers breakdown, Tony Brueski unpacks the downfall of Russell Laffitte, the former CEO of Palmetto State Bank and heir to a century-old Lowcountry dynasty, who has now been sentenced in both state and federal court for bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. For years, Laffitte wasn’t just a banker — he was the engine behind Murdaugh’s schemes. This episode goes inside the financial machinery of the Murdaugh empire. Laffitte approved illegal loans, drained conservatorship accounts, and siphoned money from some of the most vulnerable victims imaginable: grieving families, injured clients, and people who trusted the justice system. He didn’t pull a trigger at Moselle — but he kept the money flowing long enough for Murdaugh to destroy countless lives. We examine how the fraud worked, why it continued for so long, and how small-town privilege and legacy allowed Laffitte to operate unchecked. Was he manipulated by Murdaugh’s charm and pressure, or was he a fully willing architect of the deceit? His courtroom shift from defiant innocence to sudden guilty plea raises its own questions — and reveals how quickly loyalty evaporates when prison becomes real. Tony breaks down the biggest victims in the financial web, including the stolen settlements of Hakeem Pinckney, the Badger family, and others whose tragedies were exploited for profit. And we explore what Laffitte’s sentencing means for the broader Murdaugh universe: Who else knew? Who else helped? And who might be next? If you thought the Murdaugh case was just about murder, this episode exposes the darker truth — that behind every monster is the person who keeps the machine running. #Murdaugh #RussellLaffitte #MurdaughMurders #TrueCrimePodcast #FinancialCrime #BankFraud #HiddenKillers #SouthCarolinaCrime #WhiteCollarCrime #PalmettoStateBank Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872