Jackson Free Press

Federal authorities have seized $425,000 from a former district attorney linked to the most sweeping judicial bribery investigation in Mississippi in years. While no formal charges have been made public against former Hinds County District Attorney Ed Peters, prosecutors have spelled out his alleged involvement in court documents. Peters is perhaps best known as the DA whose office successfully prosecuted a white supremacist in the cold case slaying of a Mississippi civil rights leader. "Peters was a member of a conspiracy to corruptly influence a sitting State of Mississippi Circuit Court Judge," according to a motion that seeks forfeiture of the money.

U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander issued an order Tuesday for the U.S. Marshals Service to hold the money until another ruling is made.

Peters spent nearly 30 years as district attorney in Hinds County, home to the state's capital and largest city, before retiring in 2001. He has not responded to numerous messages from The Associated Press since his name first surfaced in the investigation a year ago.