U.S. judge extends order freezing Stanford assets

Texan billionaire Allen Stanford talks during an interview in Miami in this May 1, 2008 file photo.

DALLAS (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday extended an order to freeze the assets of Texan billionaire Allen Stanford and three of his companies that are accused of running a massive and long-running Ponzi scheme by U.S. regulators.

U.S. District Judge David Godbey extended a temporary restraining order that was initially granted on February 17 until March 12 at a hearing in federal court in Dallas.

(Reporting by Ed Stoddard in Dallas, writing by Anna Driver; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)