San Diego

Participants in the fraud and tax-evasion trial of Nancy Hoover Hunter began a three-week vacation Friday.

The U.S. District Court case, in which Hunter is accused of 234 counts related to the giant J. David & Co. Ponzi scheme, began April 18 after a three-week jury-selection process.

Prosecutors have so far presented more than 100 witnesses. Two jurors and two alternate jurors have been released because of family illnesses, work conflicts, and, in one case, for knowing a witness.

When the trial resumes Sept. 6, federal prosecutors are expected to spend two weeks before resting their case. Hunter’s attorneys recently said they expect to take about three weeks presenting their theory that Hunter was blinded by love for convicted swindler J. David (Jerry) Dominelli and was unaware of any fraud.