Voigt Pleads Not Guilty In Alleged Ponzi Scheme

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Stu Voigt has pleaded not guilty in an alleged Ponzi scheme.

Voigt entered his plea Thursday after being indicted earlier in April on charges of conspiracy and fraud. The government accuses Voigt, 66, and Jeffrey Gardner, 61, of using a real estate scheme to defraud investors.

Court documents say the two raised money from investors for Gardner's business, Hennessey Financial, and misrepresented the company's financial circumstances. As Hennessey declined, they say the men then created new companies and drew new loans without disclosing financial problems.

Gardner earlier pleaded not guilty in the case.

Voigt played for the Vikings from 1970 to 1980.