A JUDGE has ordered former US House majority leader Tom DeLay to serve three years in prison for his role in a scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002.

Financier Allen Stanford, waiting trial accused of defrauding investors out of billions, was taken to hospital with heart problems today.

Billionaire Allen Stanford is back in Texas today to face federal charges that he ran a US$7bn (€4.95bn) scheme to defraud investors with his international banking empire.

Texas billionaire Allen Stanford, chairman of the troubled Stanford Financial Group, is to appear in court today on fraud charges after surrendering to FBI agents, officials said.

Lawyers for Republican Congressman Tom DeLay are pushing for a change of venue after successfully arguing to have a judge removed from the case against him.