San Diego

A handwriting expert testified Wednesday that Nancy Hoover Hunter was the author of a note that prosecutors claim shows she knew of illegal activity at the J. David & Co. investment firm.

David Oleksow, a forensic document examiner for the Sheriff’s Department, said he made an “overwhelming identification” after comparing the original note with known samples of Hunter’s handwriting.

The note, which was found by investigators after the collapse of the investment house, reads: “I’m not eager for J. D. Securities to close your interbank trades--they will then be able to construct their own version of your track record. It could be bad.”

Prosecutors have said the note was intended for J. David (Jerry) Dominelli, the firm’s founder, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for his part in the huge Ponzi scheme. The firm lured investors with promises of high returns supported by fraudulent trading records.

Interbank was the market used by Dominelli to trade foreign currencies, and closing accounts refers to cashing in outstanding futures contracts.