Lawyer: Petters Hinted at Exit Plan

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Deanna Coleman finished her testimony Wednesday in the trial of businessman Tom Petters, accused of orchestrating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme.

Coleman, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in October 2008. On Monday, she testified about going to federal prosecutors in September 2008 to reveal Petters' alleged fraud.

After Coleman talked to prosecutors, she returned to Petters' headquarters wearing a wire. Coleman's testimony and recordings from that wire showed how Petters was struggling to find new money and hold off nervous investors.

Attorneys for Petters are looking to turn those recording to their advantage, highlighting those same wire recordings in which company officers appear to wonder how much Petters knows about the scam.

Petters' legal team questioned Deanna Coleman in her third day on the stand.

In one conversation, Petters Co. Inc. executive Bob White says to Coleman, "I can't tell for sure if Tom knows." Coleman responds, "Tom knows. He just doesn't want (to) think about it."

Coleman goes on to say, "I think Tom believes that these are real deals half the time." White is heard answering, "I don't know for sure what Tom knows, you know, and he lives in his fantasy world once in a while."

Petters' attorneys say he is innocent and didn't know what Coleman, White and others were doing behind his back. Both Coleman and White have already pleaded guilty in the case.

Coleman's lawyer, Allan Caplan, told FOX 9's Bill Keller his client waited five years to blow the whistle because she believed Petters when he allegedly told her he had a plan to "get them out of this."