Petters case could go to jury today

by Steve Karnowski, Associated Press

St. Paul, Minn. (AP) — Closing arguments are set in the fraud trial of Minnesota businessman Tom Petters, who's accused of running a Ponzi scheme that cost investors over $3 billion.

U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle of St. Paul has scheduled closing arguments and jury instructions for Monday, which means the jury could get the case Monday afternoon.

In testimony that spanned four days last week, Petters stuck to his claims that he was unaware that his close associates were running a Ponzi scheme through Petters Co. Inc. before federal agents raided his Minnetonka headquarters last year.

The judge said last Friday he would leave it up to jurors to decide whether to deliberate on Wednesday if they haven't reached a verdict by then, or break for the Thanksgiving holiday.