Bermudian businessman Andre Curtis faces trial within the next three months over his part in an alleged multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme in the United States.

Investigators in Montana hope they have enough proven facts against Mr. Curtis that the trial can go ahead in August or September, in his absence if necessary.

In the alleged scam, victims are said to have been conned out of huge sums of cash after being falsely promised extraordinary returns on their investment; Mr. Curtis' company Harvest Investment Holdings is said to have profited.

Last year, Mr. Curtis paid back more than $1 million to one American businessman, who later committed suicide as his business suffered financial difficulties.

But Montana attorney general Roberta Cross Guns yesterday told The Royal Gazette Mr. Curtis remains a key part of Montana State Auditor's Office investigation, along with convicted money launderer and fraudster Daniel Two Feathers and businessman Shawn Swor.

Twenty-four violations are listed against Mr. Curtis by the Montana auditor. He faces fines of up to $5,000 for each violation, a possible total of $120,000, and can also be ordered to pay back any money he gained from the scheme.

Mr. Curtis, Premier Ewart Brown's former Progressive Labour Party branch chairman, is also awaiting trial in Bermuda over a separate matter in connection with Harvest; while a Police probe into his handling of Government's faith-based tourism initiative is nearing a conclusion.

According to the Montana auditor, Mr. Curtis' company received nearly $2 million from Illinois-based Sysix Technology in November 2008, after that firm had been promised a return of 66 percent within 25 days.

That company was one of 13 alleged victims from Europe and the US which invested close to $4 million with no return.

Sysix was paid back more than $1 million after Bermudian lawyer Justin Williams secured a rare judgment from Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves varying a restraining order so cash could be taken out of Mr. Curtis' frozen account in February 2009.

Last July, Sysix CEO John Sheaffer was found dead in his office with a plastic bag over his head; after a six-week inquest, a coroner delivered a verdict of suicide.

Sysix, which is reported to have had financial difficulties, closed down on July 31.

Ms Cross Guns said one alleged scammer, Eric Schultz, has now paid back more than $500,000 to victims and a default judgment had been secured against another, Terrence Paulin.

But she described Mr. Curtis, Mr. Two Feathers and Mr. Swor as "elusive".

"He certainly hasn't corresponded with us," she said of Mr. Curtis.

"The trial will hopefully be soon. It's probably going to happen in August or September this year. He has the option to show up; if not he will be tried in his absence. It would be in his interests to show up."

Initially, the Montana investigation focused mainly on Mr. Two Feathers and Mr. Swor.

But investigators grew suspicious of Mr. Curtis after he rang them to complain they'd frozen his account and then behaved strangely during the phone conversation.

Meanwhile Police in Bermuda have revealed they have reviewed more than 20,000 documents and interviewed more than 20 witnesses as part of their investigation into Mr. Curtis' handling of faith-based tourism.

Harvest Investment Holdings was paid $374,500 of taxpayers' money to run the initiative during 2007/08, and was contracted to arrange ten events, bringing 2,200 visitors to the Island.

However, the church community says hardly any tourists were enticed, while former Auditor General Larry Dennis says Mr. Curtis failed to provide evidence that ten events even took place.

In his annual report in February, Mr. Dennis recommended Department of Tourism chiefs ask for a Police investigation into Harvest's affairs.

He added that Civil Service boss Kenneth Dill should bring a complaint against public officers who failed to carry out their oversight responsibilities by letting Mr. Curtis get the cash without any proof he would deliver a service.

Tourism has declined to comment when asked if it followed Mr. Dennis' recommendation, with Major Dill saying he does not have the authority to bring a complaint against public officers under Public Service Commission regulations.

Police confirmed they have received a complaint about faith-based tourism but would not say who made the complaint. They said their investigation was launched in August last year — before Mr. Dennis' recommendation.

A spokesman said: "This has been a complex and thorough inquiry which is now nearing conclusion."

This newspaper understands faith-based tourism no longer exists, although Tourism would not confirm that.

It's understood Bishop John Francis, who Mr. Curtis brought from the UK for a performance at the National Stadium, is still out of pocket.

Mr. Curtis could not be reached for comment.