Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway and his business partner gave $15 million to a hedge-fund manager now accused of running a Ponzi scheme.  Elway and Mitchell Pierce reportedly filed a motion saying they wired in March the money to Sean Michael Mueller, who agreed to hold the money in trust until they agreed on where it would be invested. 

Prosecutors say Mueller, 42, sent fake monthly account statements to investors and provided his accountants with fake brokerage statements showing consistent returns.  Instead of investing the money, prosecutors say Mueller bought 3 homes, several expensive cars, exclusive country club memberships and spent money on daily expenses.  He had controlled Mueller Capital Management, which was seized by regulators in April after Mueller revealed to an employee and in a note to investors that his funds had "lost money from the start." 

All told, 65 people invested $71 million with Mueller's company over 10 years;  only $9.5 million in assets were on hand in April, against $45 million in liabilities.  Elway's filing asks that the court put their claims ahead of others so they can collect their money first.  His lawyer declined to comment.   [Associated Press, 10/14]