5 indicted in $806 million LeNature’s ‘Ponzi’ case

Podlucky, 49, of Ligonier Township was charged with tax evasion; mail, wire and bank fraud; and money laundering, according to a 29-count indictment unsealed by U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan. The indictment was delivered Sept. 17 but not made public until Monday.

The five are charged with dramatically inflating the company's financial statements to potential lenders and investors in a complex "corporate Ponzi scheme" netting $806 million, authorities said.

Podlucky founded the Latrobe-based maker of flavored water, fruit juices and tea in 1992 and presided over it until November 2006, when it collapsed under allegations of gross mismanagement and a mountain of debt.