U.S. prosecutors in New York have indicated to a judge that Joseph Prebul has declined all their offers of a plea deal, signaling a firm indication that the former Chattanooga auto mogul is ready to stand trial on charges that he swindled his brother-in-law out of millions of dollars to help keep his businesses afloat.

Mr. Prebul’s businesses eventually crumbled after Mr. Prebul’s arrest in early February, helping to topple his empire and forcing him and his auto dealerships into bankruptcy.

Mr. Prebul’s trial Nov. 16 is posed to be the most dramatic climax so far in a very public family fight over money. He is charged with multiple counts of wire and mail fraud in connection with what he claims were loans from his New York City-based brother-in-law Danny Bensusan.

The bankruptcy actions remain pending in Chattanooga’s U.S. District Bankruptcy Court.

See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for complete details.