A Denver grand jury returned a 59- count indictment Wednesday charging a Denver businessman with racketeering, securities fraud, theft and forgery that cost his victims millions of dollars.

Mark J. Jackson, 55, of Englewood is charged with violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, 11 counts of securities fraud, 17 counts of theft and 30 counts of forgery.

Regulators alleged that Jackson raised more than $30 million without a license and ran a Ponzi scheme to enrich himself.

The indictment was the result of a joint investigation between the Denver district attorney's Economic Crime Unit and the Colorado Division of Securities.

The charges allege that beginning in 1995, Jackson portrayed himself as a successful day trader and took money from investors with promises of returns of 12 percent to 36 percent.Instead of investing the money, Jackson used it to pay other investors and for his personalbenefit. In addition, Jackson prepared phony profit-and- loss statements and other documents with false statements, according to the charges.

Jackson is expected to surrender this week. His bail is set at $50,000.

(The Denver Post)