This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Layton man has been charged with allegedly pretending to be a federal agent in pursuit of a fugitive in order to get a VIP pass into Salt Lake Comic Con.
A federal grand jury indicted the 29-year-old man Wednesday with impersonation of a federal officer and making a false statement to a federal agent.
On Sept. 24, the first day of the three-day pop-culture convention, the man allegedly pretended to be a Special Agent of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. In character, he reportedly demanded VIP tickets "under the ruse that he was entering the VIP area to apprehend a wanted fugitive," according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah.
VIP passes were already sold out by the time the convention started, according to the convention.
A retired Salt Lake City police officer, who was providing security for the convention at the Salt Palace, took notice. The officer questioned the man about the Air Force office and which fugitive he was looking for — then notified the Air Force office.
The man faces a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison for impersonating a federal officer. His other charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison.
Each count also includes a potential fine of $250,000.
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