Pat Boone Testifies in Fraud Trial

Singer Pat Boone, called as a witness in a fraud trial, testified Thursday that he agreed to record nursery rhymes and Bible stories to sell but lost confidence in the producers because their work was shoddy.

Boone, testifying in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for the prosecution, told jurors that he recorded about 200 audiotapes in connection with the case in 1982. Actor Vincent Price and Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who also recorded tapes, also are expected to testify.

Prosecutors allege that the two men who designed the program, former Hollywood record producer C.W. (Buz) Wilburn and Ohio businessman Johnathan D’Orio, used the tapes made by Boone and other celebrities to bilk 1,150 investors out of $12.6 million by promising inflated investment tax breaks.

Boone, known for his wholesome image and Christian music, said he was surprised to learn that investors were told the tapes he made were worth nearly $200,000 each.

The indictment against D’Orio, 41, of Akron, Ohio, and Wilburn, 66 of Ventura, says they used inflated appraisals of the tapes to lure investors, then promised tax deductions the investors were not entitled to take.