ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) âÄî An agent for the Nevada Gaming Control Board says businessman Tom Petters told authorities in Las Vegas that he’d “bite the bullet” if he had to. Agent Jesse Prieto testified Wednesday in U.S. District Court that he and two FBI agents went to Petters’ suite at the Bellagio Hotel on Sept. 24 as agents elsewhere were raiding Petters’ businesses. Petters is charged with conspiracy, fraud and money laundering in what authorities describe as a $3.5 billion Ponzi scheme. Petters maintains his innocence. He’s accused in a scheme where false purchase orders were created for merchandise that didn’t exist. Prieto says Petters initially denied that there was any missing merchandise. But Prieto says Petters eventually told the FBI that “no merchandise exits.” Petters attorney Paul Engh says the term “bite the bullet” was inconsequential because it’s one of Petters’ mantras. ___ Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com