Two faces of Trevor Cook

Cook, 37, appeared to be a successful businessman with an international portfolio. He persuaded about 1,200 people to invest with him, including many who heard of his trading scheme from Christian and conservative talk-radio shows. Yet for years, Cook had another life -- filled with out-of-control drinking, gambling, bookmaking and allegations of defrauding investors. Friends and associates say he spent lavishly on booze, luxuries and strippers, and for a time employed a former exotic dancer as his assistant.

To investors, though, Cook presented the image of a knowledgeable and successful adviser. His office in the third floor of the fortress-like Van Dusen mansion in Minneapolis -- which everyone called "the castle" -- had a bank of computer monitors streaming market updates.