David Wayne Gordan, 37, 126 S. Springfield Drive, Millbrook, faces 16 fraud and theft-related indictments in the case. Jury selection was Monday, and the trial began Tuesday.

Closing arguments are set for 8:30 a.m. Monday and court officials expect the jury to begin deliberations sometime around noon. Longtime courthouse observers can't recall a criminal or civil trial going more than four days, at least not in the past 50 or 60 years.

"We had the Prattville airport condemnation trial last week that went four days. That was a long trial," said Circuit Clerk Whit Moncrief. "We've had our share of complicated, complex cases on both the criminal and civil side, but nothing going over four days."

Circuit Judge Ben Fuller is presiding in the case. He gave the jury the choice Friday afternoon of hearing closing arguments and his charge Friday, which would have taken three hours, or breaking early and starting again Monday. A recess was called about 3 p.m. Friday.

Fuller has issued a gag order barring those involved from speaking with the media once the jury was sworn in. Fuller's order stated that since the case had garnered intense public interest and the jury wouldn't be sequestered, he didn't want comments other than those made in open court appearing in the media.

The case involved nine defendants at one time. All the defendants have pleaded guilty except Gordan. Those who have pleaded guilty were involved in a laundry list of schemes that resulted in more than $3.17 million being scammed from a host of victims. The most noteworthy victims were the congregation of Prattville's Daystar Assembly of God.

The church and several members of the congregation were defrauded of more than $1 million in a bogus investment scheme. Fake bonds were sold to fund a sprawling religious center in east Prattville. The center would have included a restaurant, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a large sanctuary.