Feds Charge 3 In Wind Farm Scam

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say three people bilked $3.7 million from investors by claiming to develop wind farms in Wyoming and South Dakota. The projects never were built.

A federal indictment filed in Cheyenne says phone solicitors made cold calls to investors nationwide, telling them the wind farms were being built by a private firm and the U.S. government.

Utah residents Robert Reed and Lauren Scott and California resident Christopher Ponish have pleaded not guilty to felony fraud charges. Their attorneys could not be reached by telephone.

Prosecutors allege that Reed and Scott used the company names of Mountain State Power Group, Mountain State Power and Sovereign Energy Partners.