Jury Seated in Fraud Trial of Nancy Hoover Hunter
A jury was seated Thursday in the fraud trial of Nancy Hoover Hunter, but opening statements and testimony won’t begin until next week.
After about a week of jury selection, attorneys selected eight women and four men jurors for the trial, which it is estimated will last 12 to 15 weeks.
Today, the attorneys return to the task of selecting eight alternate jurors, who may have to step in as regular jurors if someone becomes ill or has to be replaced.
Hunter is charged with 234 counts of fraud by a commodity pool operator, mail fraud, tax evasion, making false statements and conspiracy in connection with her former lover Jerry Dominelli’s failed investment firm.
Dominelli is serving 20 years in federal prison for fraud that caused an estimated $80 million in losses to 1,500 investors, mostly from Southern California.
U. S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam has rejected defense attempts to have the trial moved out of the county because of pretrial publicity, which began when Dominelli’s troubles surfaced in 1983. His firm went bankrupt in February, 1984.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
