The Supreme Court on Monday rejected former Hunter Biden business partner Devon Archer’s request to consider his conviction for securities fraud and conspiracy against an American Indian tribe.
The denial puts Archer closer to serving time in prison. It would have taken four justices to vote in favor of hearing the dispute.
Archer was convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy in 2018 after a six-week trial.
He was found to have participated in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud an American Indian tribal corporation alongside Jason Galanis. They issued bonds worth millions of dollars on the tribe’s behalf but then used the funds for personal extravagant purchases. According to court records, Galanis bought a luxury home.
The lower court reviewed Archer’s case and said the evidence was short to suggest any intent of wrongdoing on his behalf, but rather he was only informed of information he needed to know by Galanis during the fraud scheme. The court ordered a new trial.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his conviction. In 2022, Archer was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and ordered to pay millions in restitution.
A lawyer for Archer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hunter Biden was not involved in the case.
Archer became a key witness in the House Republicans probe into the Biden family.
He testified behind closed doors that Hunter Biden would put then-Vice President Biden on speaker phone during business meetings, but he noted that he did not think the elder Mr. Biden had committed any wrongdoing. Archer suggested that Hunter used his father’s name for influence in business dealings.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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