Federal prosecutors announced Sept. 3 they are filing charges against three people, including a woman from Hellertown, for running a yearslong Ponzi scheme that allegedly cost some 300 victims $54.5 million, according to the Morning Call.

Amanda Knorr, 32, with her partners managed Montgomery County-based green energy company Mantria, which promised great returns for investors but never actually did much other than cash incoming checks.

Knorr, Troy Wragg, 34, formerly of Philadelphia and Bethlehem, and Wayde McKelvy, 52, of Colorado, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud and seven counts of wire fraud.