A federal trial in Minneapolis for Neulan D. Midkiff of Forest Lake has been delayed once again. Midkiff has been charged in federal court with 28 felony counts that include mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his alleged involvement in a multi-state Ponzi investment scheme that collected large sums of money from hundreds of investors over several years. Jury selection in Midkiff’s trial was completed on Monday, April 7.

Judge Michael Davis granted a mistrial on April 8 at the request of Midkiff’s defense counsel who was called to assist a family member with a serious illness. Judge Davis will meet with prosecutors and defense counsel on Thursday, April 24 to set a new trial date. The jury selected last week was dismissed. A trial of three to four weeks is anticipated.

Earlier, the court released Travis Corell, 31, of Atlanta, as a co-defendant in the Minnesota case. On March 20, Corell was sentenced by a judge in Atlanta to 12 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $29 million in restitution. In November of 2007, Corell pleaded guilty to federal charges that he operated an investment program known as Horizon Establishment that offered high monthly rates of return with no risk. Court documents have linked Midkiff to Corell and his company.

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