3 ‘Hebrew Boys’ trial underway

Jury selection has started in the federal case of three Columbia-area men accused of running the $82 million “3 Hebrew Boys” investment scheme.

The men are accused of luring at least 7,000 investors from two dozen states, including many from military bases, with promises of returns up to 500 percent, authorities said.

The men told investors the money would go into foreign currency exchange markets. Instead, the group’s leaders are accused of investing less than $40,000 and going on shopping sprees, authorities said.  Their purchases included a $5 million jet, homes, condos and luxury stadium boxes.
Accused of federal mail fraud charges: are Joseph Brunson of Hopkins; Timothy McQueen of Blythewood; and Tony Pough of Columbia.

The trio has denied any wrongdoing and said at rallies their work is faith-based and does not fall under securities laws.

On Monday, the three men, on their own, filed an answer to the indictment that said the government’s case is fraudulent because they are not citizens of the country.

Instead, they are ancestors of people who lived in what’s now the United State before the European colonists arrived.

The men were first arrested by state officials in 2007 for selling unregistered securities. They were indicted on federal charges a year later.

They could get up to 20 years in prison if convicted on 35 federal counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.