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St. Paul, Minn. (AP)

Key government witness to testify in Petters trial

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Federal prosecutors plan to call one of their star witnesses Monday in the fraud trial of Minnesota businessman Tom Petters.

They say Deanna Coleman blew the whistle on the alleged $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme at Petters Company Inc. She pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy and faces five years in prison under her plea deal.

Coleman was one of Petters' closest associates until she went to federal prosecutors last year.

Petters is charged with 20 counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Defense attorney Jon Hopeman said Petters is innocent and pointed the blame squarely at Coleman during opening statements last week. He claims Petters was unaware that Coleman and other defendants were running a Ponzi scheme behind his back.