Feds: Carton did searches for ‘Ponzi’

Ex-WFAN host Craig Carton doesn't want prosecutors to utter “Ponzi scheme” during his trial because it would be unfair – but prosecutors say he Googled that very phrase while under investigation.

The revelation about Carton's search history came in papers filed Monday in Manhattan Federal Court by prosecutors.

“Evidence obtained from Carton's cell phone shows that he conducted numerous searches related to ‘Ponzi scheme' and ‘Ponzi' in the months before his arrest,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisha Kobre wrote.

The search history, Kobre said, could be shown to the jury as evidence of Carton's “consciousness of guilt.”

Last week Carton (inset) filed papers arguing that the phrase would prejudice the jury against him.

“There is little doubt that the real purpose for the government's usage of the term ‘Ponzi scheme' during trial is to incite jury emotion and tar Mr. Carton as a criminal,” Carton attorney Derrelle Janey wrote.

Carton was arrested last September for a $4.6 million scheme in which he allegedly used money from investors in a ticket reselling business to repay his massive gambling debts.

Jury selection in Carton's trial is set to begin Oct. 29.