SEATTLE - A federal grand jury has indicted a Bellevue man and two others in connection with operating a $65 million "Ponzi" scheme that bilked investors in Asian oil and gas companies that produced no oil or gas.

Robert Miracle, 48, was charged in a 23-count indictment charging conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. He was arrested at his Bellevue home Friday morning.

Also charged were two Malaysian nationals, Mukhtar Kechik, 52, and Fahimi Fisal, 32. Warrants have been issued for their arrests.

According to the indictment, Miracle operated a number of companies allegedly involved in oil development in Malaysia and Indonesia. Miracle and his co-defendants told investors that these companies were making money from oil-field development and from the sale of oil-field services.

In fact, the funds of later investors were used to pay off the investments of earlier investors, according to the federal indictment.

The companies operated under the names of Laramie Petroleum, Inc.; MCube Petroleum, Inc.; Diski Limited Liability Co.; Basilam Limited Liability Co.; and Halmahera-Rembang Limited Liability Co.

Between September 2004 and October 2007, Miracle took in more than $65 million from investors and paid out more than $36 million in returns to investors, using funds from later investors.

The remainder of the investors' money - more than $28 million - was used in a failed effort to develop oil and gas on fields in Indonesia, as well as to pay for a lavish lifestyle for Miracle and his cohorts.

As part of the conspiracy, Miracle allegedly misled investors both about his business background and about the success of the companies he promoted, according to the indictment.

Miracle falsely claimed to have been employed by NASA and Disney, and he claimed that his companies actually were producing and selling oil and gas, the indictment says. Miracle also allegedly created false bank documents to support their fraud.

As part of the indictment, the government is seeking to forfeit a two-carat diamond ring Miracle purchased for more than $38,000 and a painting he purchased in Italy for $27,000.

The indictment also alleges that Miracle used investor funds to take 10 family members on a week-long cruise at a cost of more than $77,000, and that he evaded taxes on more than $527,000 of income in 2005.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and the state Department of Financial Institutions.