Tom Petters Trial to Remain in Minnesota

Last month local Wayzata resident demanded to have his trial moved to another state because of bad publicity from the news media, websites and everyday chatter that he feels is harming his case. However, the federal judge with the case denied to have the trial moved to another state, at least not for now. Petters is accused of running a $3.5 billion Ponzi scheme, is charged with fraud, money laundering and conspiracy and wants his trial be moved to Wisconsin or Iowa. Petters argues that he won't get a fair trial due to all the media attention in Minnesota. The U.S. attorney's office argued against a venue change. They said a change would be costly and Petters himself fostered pretrial publicity. While the judge sided with the U.S. attorney, he did leave open the possibility of moving the trial if the court finds during jury selection that a fair jury cannot be seated. The judge also wrote that the court could consider "other procedural safeguards" other than moving the trial once jury selection begins.

Tom Petters is pleading not guilty and the trial is set to start in June.

(Photo courtesy of http://www.publicradio.org/)
Tom Petters, on far right, presenting check