Judge issues gag order in Allen Stanford trial

HOUSTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Thursday issued an order banning lawyers and witnesses in accused swindler Allen Stanford's criminal trial from talking to the media.

There is a "substantial likelihood" that discussion of the case by trial participants might taint the jury pool and "undermine a fair trial," U.S. District Judge David Hittner said in a 6-page order.

Hittner said the case has already received extensive media coverage that he does not expect to subside ahead of Stanford's trial, which is scheduled for Jan. 24.

"Such heightened publicity surrounding these proceedings potentially poses a significant danger to providing a fair trial by impartial jurors," the order said.

Stanford, 50, is accused of orchestrating a $7 billion Ponzi scheme centered on fraudulent certificates of deposit issued by his bank in Antigua.

The Texas financier and former billionaire has pleaded not guilty to the 21-count indictment and has spent more than a year in jail awaiting his trial.

The case is USA v. Stanford et al, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, No. 09-cr-00342. (Reporting by Anna Driver in Houston; Editing by Gary Hill)