A grand jury has charged a Capital Region couple with theft and securities fraud stemming from a scheme in which they sold non-existent stock and other securities in companies purporting to distribute gourmet frozen foods.

Peter Perun, 48, and his wife, Tara Perun, 39, of Lake George are accused of stealing from investors by lying to them in order to sell securities which did not exist, and to obtain loans for fraudulent business expenses. It is alleged that the scheme involved more than $900,000 in transactions.

Between December 1999 and August 2005, the couple allegedly took money from more than 140 individuals living in the Capital Region, New York City, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and California by lying to them about investment opportunities in two gourmet frozen food businesses operated by entities called Modern Day Gourmet and Harvest Holdings, Inc. The general scheme used by the defendants involved persuading potential investors by guaranteeing large returns, of up to one hundred times the original investment.

Many of the defendants victims were friends and acquaintances from local churches and religious organizations. The Peruns allegedly used the money they received pursuant to this scheme to pay their own personal expenses.

Peter Perun was charged with:\ two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class "C" felony; six counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class "D" felony; one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class "E" felony; and nine counts of Fraudulent Practices with Respect to Securities, in violation of General Business Law, class "E" felonies.

Tara Perun was charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class "C" felony; one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class "E" felony; and two counts of Fraudulent Practices with Respect to Securities, class "E" felonies.