The first witnesses testify for the prosecution Thursday in Minnesota's largest fraud trial ever.
The government says a trail of bogus checks and decade-old documents are just the beginning of businessman Tom Petters' corruption and crimes.
The prosecution showed jurors copies of checks, each worth millions of dollars Thursday. They say the checks were bogus and witnesses testified that Tom Petters knew it.
Petters Company Inc. sold electronics to companies like Costco.
In order to get those goods, prosecutors say Petters Company set up a line of credit for $50 million with G.E. Capital.
They say G.E. realized purchase orders were doctored in 2000 when the Petters Company was getting behind on payments.
They hinted Petters Company did this to pretend they were bringing in business that didn't exist and to maintain the high level of credit.
Witnesses for the prosecution described conversations with Tom Petters, suggesting he knew what was going on.
The defense set the stage Thursday to continue to argue that Petters associates, and not Petters, were the ones behind any wrongdoing at anytime.
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