Read the judge's order

The fraud trial of Wayzata businessman Tom Petters won't be moved out of Minnesota, at least not for now.

The federal judge in the case denied Petters's request for a change of venue.

Petters is accused of running a $3.5 billion Ponzi scheme. He's pleaded not guilty.

Last month his attorneys asked that his trial be moved to Wisconsin or Iowa. They argued he wouldn't get a fair trial due to all the media attention in Minnesota.

The U.S. attorney's office argued against a venue change. It said a change would be costly and Petters himself fostered pretrial publicity.

While the judge sided with the U.S. attorney, he did leave open the possibility of moving the trial if the court finds during jury selection that a fair jury cannot be seated.

The judge also wrote that the court could consider "other procedural safeguards" other than moving the trial once jury selection begins.

Petters is being charged with fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. His trial is set to start in June.

COURT DOCUMENTS:
 View the release request
 Read Petters motion to be freed
 Read Petters detention documents
 Read the affidavit
 Petters Group Worldwide bankruptcy documents
 Intervention in Petters case denied

BACKGROUND ON THE STORY:
 Biography of Tom Petters 
 Federal prosecutors respond to Petters' request to move trial
 Petters associate to be 'immediately' released from jail
 Petters requests change of venue for trial
 Petters co-defendant asks for frivolous monthly increases
 Petters associate asks for jail release
 Judge revokes bail for Petters associate
 Petters associate to be searched again for assets
 Motion filed to send Petters associate to jail
 OFFICIAL: Petters hiding money from court 
 Petters makes third request for release
 FEDS: Petters' associate knew of scheme
 Attorneys say Petters not a flight risk
 Petters' attorney: 'There's been rush to judgment'
 Petters associate transported to Sherburne Co. Jail 
 Petters Group Worldwide files for Ch. 11 
 Petters ordered held, 3 associates plead guilty 
 Excelsior man charged in Petters matter
 Petters charged with fraud, will be held in jail 
 Court documents unsealed in Petters case 
 Petters resigns 
 Petters meets with employees after raid
 Warrant alleges $100M fraud by Petters

HOW THE CASE AFFECTS OTHERS:
 Petters case leaves Rochester bank out $7.1M
 Non-profits, charity groups sue Petters, associates 
 Top Minn. politicians return Petters donations 
 Hedge fund sues Petters, alleging swindle
 How bad is it? Sun Country says they're $4M in debt
 Sun Country files for bankruptcy protection 
 Sun Country warns of possible shutdown 
 Sun Country defers half of paychecks 
 Interview with Sun Country's CEO