MONTREAL - A Montreal financial planner charged with bilking unsuspecting clients out of millions of dollars has seen his case postponed until early December.

Alleged Ponzi schemer Earl Jones was not present as the Crown and defence agreed in a Montreal courtroom Monday to put off the case until Dec. 4.

The 67-year-old Jones has been free on bail since being charged in July with four counts each of fraud and theft.

Lawyer Jeffrey Boro says the Crown has told him police have identified 161 people who allege they were victims of fraud worth a total of about $75 million.

Quebec provincial police are investigating, but meeting with the alleged victims will take time.

"A case like this usually takes about two years of police investigation and the newspapers and the journalists expect instant solutions -- you know, this not `NCIS'," said Boro, referring to the popular American TV drama.

"With an alleged 161 victims, you don't meet them all on the same day."

Boro said he has not yet received all the evidence on the initial charges and isn't sure when any new charges will be laid against his client.

The veteran Montreal defence lawyer said he couldn't say if discussions are underway to put an abrupt end to the case as early as the next court date.

"We have to examine all the evidence first and then we'll have to see what we're going to do," Boro said.

Jones is bankrupt and reportedly living off his modest government pensions and has been unable to find a job, according to Boro.

Jones has not had to return to court since a highly publicized appearance in the summer when a contingent of beefy courthouse security guards ushered the disgraced financial planner to a waiting car after his arraignment.

Since then, both he and his financial services company have been declared bankrupt in Quebec Superior Court and he has been turfed from his luxury condo in suburban Montreal.

His remaining assets are being sold, but there appears to be very little money for creditors.

Jones, who is estranged from his family, has kept a low profile and his lawyer says not to expect him to appear in court unless he's ready to make some sort of declaration.

Jones has not yet entered a plea.

"If my client wants to make a monumental decision, then he'll be here on Dec. 4," said Boro.

"If the case will be continued into next year, then more than likely he won't be here."