Utah state and federal prosecutors have a checkered track record when it comes to charging and convicting some Utah power brokers in politics and business in recent years. Here’s a look at some cases that stumbled:
2017
Rick Koerber — A former real-estate guru, Koerber was charged in an 18-count federal indictment with running a Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded investors of nearly $100 million. An eight-week trial ended with a mistrial on Oct. 16. It was the second time a case against Koerber ended with no conviction; a previous case was tossed out by a judge. That ruling later was overturned by another court. Federal prosecutors intend to retry the case.
John Swallow — A former Utah attorney general, Swallow was acquitted in March on nine public corruption-related crimes by a jury in state court. The case grew out of a joint FBI and state police investigation that also ensnared Swallow’s predecessor, Mark Shurtleff in 2014. The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office handled the case.
2016
Jeremy Johnson — A onetime internet-marketing mogul, Johnson was convicted on federal charges of making false statements to a bank, but walked away from 78 other charges, including bank fraud and money laundering. Johnson, who served as his own attorney at trial, is serving an 11 year prison term. The case is on appeal.
Mark Shurtleff — Utah’s attorney general for a dozen years, Shurtleff was charged in 2014 with multiple felony and misdemeanor crimes stemming from allegations of pay-to-play political corruption. The case was dismissed by Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings, citing concerns over the truthfulness of evidence and a lack of cooperation from the FBI and the Department of Justice, which Rawlings said had blocked him from accessing some evidence.
2015
Marc Sessions Jenson — A hard-money lender and entrepreneur, Jenson was acquitted by a state jury on charges of fraud and money laundering tied to a failed Beaver County golf and ski-resort development known as Mt. Holly. Jenson was a key player in the public-corruption investigations of Shurtleff and Swallow. His case was handled by the Salt Lake County district attorney’s office.
2005
Nancy Workman — The former Salt Lake County mayor, Workman was acquitted on two felony counts of misusing public funds in a case that prompted the politician to abandon her 2004 re-election bid. The case was argued by a special prosecutor retained by the Salt Lake County district attorney. (In a separate case County Auditor Craig Sorenson did serve 10 days for stealing gas using his government fuel card.)
2003
Tom Welch and Dave Johnson — A federal judge acquitted the leaders of Salt Lake City's Olympic bid — Welch and Johnson — on charges connected to the bribery scandal that tainted the International Olympic Committee and Salt Lake City’s efforts to land the 2002 Winter Games.
