GALENA ? A businessman charged with tax fraud will get to keep his private jet for the time being.

A federal judge has allowed Gary Hall of Joplin, Mo., to hold onto the Hawker Beechcraft jet after Hall’s business partner agreed to post property he owns in Missouri and Arkansas to cover the jet’s $5 million value.

Hall is scheduled to go on trial on April 13, 2010, on a 43-count federal indictment.

He is president and owner of Galena, Kan.-based Sunflower Supply Co.

He and seven other people and three businesses face a 43-count federal indictment alleging multiple counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Prosecutors claim the group committed $25 million in tobacco tax fraud against Oklahoma and American Indian tribes.

Other defendants include Thomas A. Grantham, of Joplin; Keith D. Noe, of Joplin; Justine Boyes, of Galena; Danny R. Davis, of Galena; Jeremy W. Hooker, of Salina, Okla.; Justice M. Berry, of Joplin; and James W. Coble, of Galena. Sunflower Supply, Joplin-based Discount Tobacco Warehouse and Rebel Industries Inc. are also named in the indictment.

U.S. District Judge Monti Belot last month agreed to continue the case to next year after defense attorneys said they needed more time to prepare.

The ruling also affected Hall’s jet, which is listed in the indictment as a forfeitable asset if Hall is convicted.

Belot allowed Hall to substitute property he or business partner Steve Vogel own for the jet, which was seized by federal authorities when he was arrested in October.

The land includes land in Benton County, Ark.; 300 acres in Camden County near the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri; and some of Vogel’s property in Webb City.

Vogel said the property in Arkansas and Webb City is planned for commercial development and proceeds from any sales of the property would be held in escrow until the case was finished.

“Gary’s always been there for me,” Vogel said. “It’s a no-brainer. He’s always helped me when I needed help.”

Vogel said he believes Hall is innocent and that some in the public have unfairly convicted him without a trial.