Federal prosecutors in Manhattan sued Bayou on Sept. 1, saying the company had defrauded investors since 1998 by misrepresenting the fund's performance.

"He owes the American people an honest answer whether, under his watch, his company defrauded taxpayers," said Kym Spell, a Gore campaign spokeswoman.

One local Florida prosecutor who has investigated Snack Right suspects that the company and its predecessor companies had defrauded scores of victims since 1991.

"From a political standpoint, I think this is mostly being driven by the president's actual anger at how these companies are defrauding the public."

The indictment alleged that the company defrauded consumers and banks of US$100 million.

If the company defrauded customers, pay them back.

James Guerin, the founder of International Signal, has denied that his company defrauded Ferranti.

In 1993, offices of the company were raided by law enforcement in an attempt to show that the company was defrauding patients and insurance companies.

The suit said the company had defrauded investors by manipulating its bookkeeping to meet Wall Street's expectations.

The suits also contend that the companies defrauded members in violation of the federal anti-racketeering law, which provides for treble damages.