HOUSTON,  (Reuters) -  Allen Stanford, who is  accused of an $8 billion fraud by U.S. regulators, has retained  a Houston attorney, a court filing showed yesterday.

The attorney, Jacks Nickens, from the firm of Nickens,  Keeton, Lawless, Farrell & Flack LLP, filed the papers in U.S.  District Court in Dallas.

Stanford, who has had his assets frozen by a court  appointed receiver previously told the court he could not  afford an attorney.

He has also been in talks with noted  criminal attorney Dick DeGuerin.