'3 Hebrew Boys' Fraud Trial to Start

Jury selection is scheduled to start today 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, authorities said.

Accused of federal mail fraud charges: are Joseph Brunson of Hopkins; Timothy McQueen of Blythewood; and Tony Pough of Columbia.

...the three men, on their own, filed an answer to the indictment ... they are ancestors of people who lived in what's now the United State before the European colonists arrived.