Attorneys for former Qwest chief executive Joe Nacchio have hired veteran Denver public-relations representative Charlie Russell, sources confirmed Monday.
Nacchio goes to trial March 19 on 42 counts of illegal insider trading for $100.8 million in stock sales he made in 2001. He has pleaded not guilty.
Nacchio’s lawyers hired Russell to “facilitate media inquiries” as they prepare for trial, and not to serve as a spokesman, said a source close to the Nacchio defense.
Russell declined to comment Monday, as did Nacchio’s Denver attorney, John Richilano.
Russell, 66, has worked for defense attorneys in many high-profile cases. In 2005, he was spokesman for Richard Scrushy during the former HealthSouth chief executive’s fraud trial. Scrushy was acquitted of 36 criminal charges but later convicted on mail-fraud and bribery charges.
After the first trial, Russell admitted he paid $2,500 to a woman who wrote and said flattering things about Scrushy. He said the money was for community-relations work after the trial, not payment for her statements.
Other former Russell clients include lawyers for the parents of JonBenét Ramsey.
Russell also has represented corporate clients in trouble, including McDonnell Douglas in the wake of a plane crash and Philip Morris amid tobacco litigation.
Staff writer Andy Vuong contributed to this report.
Staff writer Greg Griffin can be reached at 303-954-1241 or ggriffin@denverpost.com.
This story has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporting error, it incorrectly described Charlie Russell’s work history. Convicted financial planner Will Hoover introduced Russell to former HealthSouth chief executive Richard Scrushy, but Russell never worked for Hoover.
