There is some help coming to local investors who were victims of what federal authorities say was a ponzi scheme

This all dates back to the pyramid scheme allegedly carried out by Ashvin Zaveri of Honeoye Falls.

He was under indictment at the time of his death in August of 2010 when he reportedly shot and killed himself. The U.S. Attorney's office says that between 2003 and 2009, Zaveri was accused of defrauding people who invested about 35-million dollars in oil and natural gas exploration partnerships in Tennesse and Kentucky.

Officials say most of the proceeds were used to pay off previous investors and for Zaveri's personal use. He was under indictment for fraud and money laundering when he died. But the U.S. Attorney's office continued with a civil action against the assets that could be linked to the ponzi scheme.

Now, the feds say that the government wil return around nine million dollars in forefeited funds. More than 120 people may be eligible to get a share of that money.