Two fraudsters who led a worldwide Ponzi scheme involving Bermudian Andre Curtis face decades in jail if found guilty of new federal charges.Daniel Two Feathers and Shawn Swor have been charged in the US federal court with investment fraud, receipt of stolen money in interstate commerce and money laundering in relation to the scam which conned investors out of $4 million in 2008.The Montana Commissioner has previously ruled against Mr Two Feathers, Mr Swor and a number of co-conspirators, including Mr Curtis, who was fined $335,000 and ordered to pay back victims he had duped by falsely promising massive returns.Mr Curtis, the political campaign manager for former Premier Ewart Brown, was also handed a 15-month jail sentence in 2010 for falsely claiming his company Harvest Investment Holdings was registered with the Bermuda Monetary Authority.Montana State Auditor’s Office special attorney Roberta Cross Guns confirmed the matter is now in the hands of FBI agents, with new charges being filed by the federal government as an extension of those brought by the state three years ago.Mr Two Feathers and Mr Swor are due in court for a pre-trial conference before US District Judge Donald Molloy after January 1. Ms Cross Guns indicated charges against more individuals are expected early in the New Year.Federal court documents for Mr Two Feathers’ case show the investment fraud charge carries a penalty of 20 years in jail and $250,000 fine; ten years in prison and $250,000 fine for receipt of stolen money; and ten years in prison and $250,000 fine for money laundering.The first charge, according to the papers, is that Mr Two Feathers attempted to receive cash under the false pretence that it would be invested to yield a “principal and significant return”.The document continues: “It was further part of the scheme to defraud that despite assurances to investors that their money would be fully committed to the investment opportunity being promoted by the defendant, only a relatively modest percentage of investor monies received, if any, would be used to pursue investment opportunities, and that most of the monies would be expended to enrich the defendant and support his personal lifestyle.”Montana State Auditor’s Office has previously told how Mr Curtis’ company received nearly $2 million from Illinois-based Sysix Technology, after that firm was promised a return of 66 percent within 25 days.Sysix boss John Sheaffer later grew suspicious, called the authorities and eventually got more than $1 million back. He was found dead in his office in July 2009, with a coroner delivering a verdict of suicide.The Montana investigation had initially focused mainly on Mr Two Feathers and Mr Swor.But investigators say they grew suspicious of Mr Curtis due to his strange behaviour after he rang them to complain when he was named as a peripheral figure in the case.They consequently stepped up their probe of Mr Curtis, with the state Commissioner eventually ruling he:l knowingly helped Two Feathers run a securities fraud and operate and promote a Ponzi scheme;l told investors they would receive monthly rates so large “there was no set of circumstances” they could be achieved;l neglected to tell investors cash would be put in accounts owned or controlled by himself or Two Feathers;l neglected to tell investors cash would be used for Curtis’ own benefit;l neglected to tell investors he wasn’t registered to sell securities in Montana.Two months ago, Mr Curtis was found not guilty of stealing $130,000 from the public purse through the controversial faith-based tourism scheme he ran through Dr Brown’s Tourism and Transport Ministry.Mr Curtis’ lawyer did not challenge claims that the defendant had spent taxpayer dollars on himself, but argued Government had effectively drawn up a contract allowing him to do that without breaking the law.