Minn. Man Indicted In Oil Investment Scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Four people have been indicted in Kansas City for their roles in a $7.2 million fraud scheme that federal prosecutors say victimized investors nationwide.

Three of the accused sold shares in Petro America Corp., a purported oil-trading firm that claimed to be worth $284 billion. Investigators say the company actually was worthless and that investor money fueled lavish lifestyles for its top officials.

The federal indictment was announced Monday. It names 55-year-old Isreal Owen Hawkins of Kansas City, Kan.; 52-year-old Teresa Brown of Bandera, Texas; 56-year-old Johnny Heurung of St. Paul, Minn.; and 62-year-old Clarence Moore of Atlanta.

Hawkins' attorney was not immediately available for comment. It was unclear if the other three defendants had obtained lawyers.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)