The federal trial of a Forest Lake man who is accused of heading a Ponzi scheme is expected to continue this week and next, a court official said this week.

Neulan Midkiff, 66, is on trial in Minneapolis where he is facing mail and wire fraud, money laundering and failure to pay income tax charges. Midkiff is accused of taking part in a multi-state pyramid scheme that reportedly bilked hundreds of people, including many in the Forest Lake area, of a reported $30 million over several years.

A court official said the federal prosecution is expected to close its case this week with the proceedings then falling to the defense. The trial is expected to continue throughout the week of July 28 before going to the 12-member jury.

The prosecution is expected to call Travis Correll of Atlanta, GA, as a witness early this week. Correll, who has been convicted for his role in the Ponzi scheme in Georgia, was the head of Horizon Establishment, a company with links to investment plans alleged to have been operated in Minnesota by Midkiff.

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