BOISE (AP) — A federal lawsuit alleges an eastern Idaho businessman conned at least $40 million from investors and used their money to make credit card payments, pay for snowmobiles and a mansion in Idaho Falls.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed the lawsuit against Daren Palmer and Trigon Group Inc. on Thursday. The commission is also seeking a preliminary injunction to freeze Palmer's assets.

The Idaho Department of Finance has already issued a cease and desist order to the Idaho Falls investment firm, which is under investigation for what state and federal officials say appears to be a Ponzi scheme.

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A Ponzi, or pyramid scheme, is an investment scam in which money from new investors is used to pay old investors.

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