NATION

NATION

Chrysler recalls hundreds to work at Illinois plant

BELVIDERE, Ill. — Chrysler plans to restart production at a northern Illinois plant and is recalling hundreds of workers.

Spokesman Max Gates says employees have been asked to report for work at the automaker’s Belvidere plant today. He says the plant will operate through Friday, then go into a two-week shutdown planned for all Chrysler factories.

The Belvidere plant assembles Dodge Calibers, Jeep Patriots and Jeep Compasses. It’s been idle since May 1, when Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Assets frozen for company accused in Ponzi scheme

DALLAS — Federal regulators have frozen the assets of a Delaware company accused of swindling nearly 8,000 investors in a $485 million Ponzi scheme that falsely promised hefty returns on investments in the oil and gas business, officials said Tuesday.

Three businessmen in Dallas, where Provident Royalties LLC has its main office, ran the nationwide operation involving fraudulent securities offerings between June 2006 and January 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission alleged in civil complaint filed in a North Texas federal court.

Associated Press