Over the protests of some named victims and the state prosecutor, a judge approved postponing the fraud trial of Gold Country Lenders CEO Philip Lester and CFO Susan Laferte from April to June. But the trial’s start date remains in question, as defense attorneys indicated they might move for a change of venue. Laferte and Lester were indicted in mid-January by a criminal grand jury for allegedly defrauding investors of millions of dollars over a period of eight years. They already had been facing more than 60 felony counts of elder abuse, securities fraud and conspiracy, which had been filed …












