Prosecutors wrapped up their case in Conrad Black's criminal fraud trial today after 11 weeks of testimony designed to convince jurors the one-time high-flying media mogul and his associates are thieves.
Mr Black did get a bit of good news as the government rested its case when prosecutors, without explanation, dropped a single count of money laundering against him.
That left Mr Black still charged with six counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of obstruction of justice, one count of racketeering and two counts of tax evasion. His three co-defendants face lesser charges and none of them had been charged with money laundering.
Defense lawyers will now have their chance in the coming weeks to tell jurors that the four are innocent of stealing $60 million from the company through which Mr Black once ran one of the world's largest newspaper publishing chains.
The trial is likely to go to the jury in late June, but there were initial indications today that the 62-year-old Canadian-born Black, now a British citizen and member of the House of Lords, will not take the stand in his own defense.
Among the last in a parade of nearly 30 prosecution witnesses was a US government agent who said an analysis of tax returns from Mr Black's former company indicated the firm would have had nearly $24 million more in income over two years if money had not been diverted by Mr Black and his associates.