3 Hebrew Boys acting as own lawyers for hearing

The Associated Press

The Columbia-area men who called themselves the "3 Hebrew Boys" are scheduled to be arraigned on mail fraud charges.

Today's hearing would be the first for the men since they decided to act as their own attorneys last month.

The men asked a judge Monday to delay the hearing so they could have more time to prepare, but no ruling on the request had been posted an hour before today's hearing was scheduled.

Tony Pough, Timothy McQueen and Joseph Brunson each face arraignment on 35 federal mail fraud charges.

Prosecutors say the men collected $80 million from 7,000 investors in two dozen states by promising returns of up to 500 percent, but invested little of the money and spent millions of dollars on themselves.

The men have said they offered a legitimate investment opportunity, and still have the support of dozens of investors.