FARMINGTON, Utah -
A Lindon man charged in connection with an $18 million Ponzi scheme is now accused of trying to have witnesses in the case against him killed from the Davis County Jail.
Jeffrey Lane Mowen, 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City late Wednesday on charges of solicitation to commit a crime of violence, witness tampering, retaliating against a witness and willfully causing another to commit a federal crime. The charges are in addition to a wire fraud charge he is facing in connection with the fraud scheme.
Federal authorities told Fox 13 News that Mowen tried to persuade a fellow inmate at the Davis County Jail to kill four people. U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman refused to say how federal authorities learned of it, but said they "kept their ears open."
The indictment alleges that from August until October, Mowen tried to persuade the inmate, only identified as "J.Q." to kill the witnesses, identified in charging documents as T.F., A.B., J.B., and M.A.
"Needless to say, this individual made overt attempts to get other individuals to assist him to retaliate against witnesses that would testify against him," Tolman said Thursday.
"This obviously raises a lot of concerns for your witnesses. Are you taking steps to protect them?" Tolman was asked by Fox 13's Ben Winslow.
"We are, and we are always very vigilant when it comes to the witnesses that we have in any of our cases, and especially when it is a case involving serious felonies," Tolman replied.
Mowen remains in the Davis County Jail. His attorney, Stephen McCaughey, told Fox 13 News on Thursday that Mowen denies the charges.
"He denies that he ever intended any harm to come to any witness. He's basically looking forward to trying the fraud case he's involved in and we'll just have to see where these other allegations go," he said.
Mowen is accused in an $18 million Ponzi scheme that unraveled earlier this year. He gained notoriety for his purchase of more than 200 high-end cars that federal authorities alleged were part of the con to lure investors into the Ponzi scheme.
The FBI said Mowen fled the country before being arrested in Panama and extradited back to Utah.
Jeffrey Lane Mowen, 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City late Wednesday on charges of solicitation to commit a crime of violence, witness tampering, retaliating against a witness and willfully causing another to commit a federal crime. The charges are in addition to a wire fraud charge he is facing in connection with the fraud scheme.
Federal authorities told Fox 13 News that Mowen tried to persuade a fellow inmate at the Davis County Jail to kill four people. U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman refused to say how federal authorities learned of it, but said they "kept their ears open."
The indictment alleges that from August until October, Mowen tried to persuade the inmate, only identified as "J.Q." to kill the witnesses, identified in charging documents as T.F., A.B., J.B., and M.A.
"Needless to say, this individual made overt attempts to get other individuals to assist him to retaliate against witnesses that would testify against him," Tolman said Thursday.
"This obviously raises a lot of concerns for your witnesses. Are you taking steps to protect them?" Tolman was asked by Fox 13's Ben Winslow.
"We are, and we are always very vigilant when it comes to the witnesses that we have in any of our cases, and especially when it is a case involving serious felonies," Tolman replied.
Mowen remains in the Davis County Jail. His attorney, Stephen McCaughey, told Fox 13 News on Thursday that Mowen denies the charges.
"He denies that he ever intended any harm to come to any witness. He's basically looking forward to trying the fraud case he's involved in and we'll just have to see where these other allegations go," he said.
Mowen is accused in an $18 million Ponzi scheme that unraveled earlier this year. He gained notoriety for his purchase of more than 200 high-end cars that federal authorities alleged were part of the con to lure investors into the Ponzi scheme.
The FBI said Mowen fled the country before being arrested in Panama and extradited back to Utah.
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
