The trial of a Vicksburg attorney accused of knowingly filing false claims for payment from a diet-drug settlement trust has been postponed a second time.

U.S. District Judge David Bramlette granted a request from attorneys for Robert Arledge, 49, 101 Golding Blvd., that his trial be delayed and set Feb. 6 as the new trial date.

The case first had been set for trial starting Aug. 8 and reset for Monday.

In both requests for continuances, Arledge’s attorneys asked for more time &#8220because of the huge number of documents” they received from the government, Jackson U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Sheila Wilbanks said.

The government did not oppose the request, Wilbanks said.

Court records show Arledge is represented by William Kirksey and Carl Koch of Jackson and Michael Winfield of Vicksburg, Wilbanks said.

Arledge is accused in a May 26 indictment charging conspiracy, mail and wire fraud and money-laundering. Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of about $8 million in assets, the amount he’s accused of obtaining through claims he knew were false.

Arledge surrendered to federal authorities in Jackson May 29. He was arraigned on the indictment there the next day.

Kirksey called the charges against his client &#8220unfounded” and said Arledge had done nothing wrong.

The indictment accuses Arledge of helping qualify Jefferson County residents for settlement payments from a trust established by a federal court for settlement of claims against the former American Home Products Corporation, now Wyeth.

Federal authorities had also charged and, in September 2004, obtained guilty pleas from at least three of the Jefferson County residents on whose behalf the Arledge indictment says false claims were submitted. While other claimants have also been indicted and sentenced after guilty pleas, Arledge is the only attorney charged. The indictment alleges he actively participated in preparing bogus documents to make claims.

The trust was designed for AHP to settle claims for damages from people who were harmed by using drugs it manufactured and sold under the names Pondimin and Redux, the indictment says. Those drugs were used in a combination called fen-phen that was prescribed to treat obesity.

The drugs were pulled from the market in 1997 after research revealed they could cause heart problems.

The indictment lists goods and services it says Arledge bought using funds obtained fraudulently from the settlement trust. FBI agents swarmed Arledge’s home on May 25, while he was away, to begin the process of seizing some of his property.

Arledge made an unsuccessful run for the judgeship of Warren County Court and Youth Court in 2002. He subsequently sought the job of prosecuting attorney for Warren County, first by gubernatorial appointment and then as a candidate for election. He did not receive the appointment and withdrew his candidacy prior to the election.

The indictment against Arledge says he was associated with the Jackson law firm Schwartz & Associates.

Following his May 30 arraignment Arledge was released on $50,000 bond.

A trial would be in Jackson, Wilbanks said.