A judge has ordered the release of alleged swindler Earl Jones on $30,000 bail.

Jones appeared in a Montreal court on Tuesday afternoon where he was formally charged with four counts each of fraud and theft in connection with four former clients.

Quebec’s securities regulator, the Autorité des marchés financiers, has accused Jones of diverting between $30 million and $50 million in investments belonging to about 50 investors.

Jones was ordered to return to court in September.

He turned himself in to police on Monday after disappearing for about three weeks.

The allegations against Jones have not been proved in court.

IE