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The parents of imprisoned St. George businessman Jeremy Johnson have written Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, expressing concerns about why his office has failed to fund a state grand jury to examine possible misconduct by a range of government officials.
The letter from Santa Clara residents Kerry and Barbara Johnson mentions the so far unsuccessful efforts by Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings to secure funding for such an inquiry.
In their letter, the Johnsons specifically mention now-retired Department of Justice attorney Brent Ward, who at one time had been the lead prosecutor of their son.
Rawlings and Reyes' spokesman said earlier this month that discussions about funding a grand jury were ongoing.
"We have followed the evidence Troy Rawlings has gathered," the Johnsons wrote, "and are baffled as to why you would want to overlook this action."
Reyes' spokesman, Daniel Burton, pointed out Monday that the attorney general's office has not turned down funding but instead said $50,000 will be available to Rawlings when a memorandum governing distribution can be reached.
Johnson is serving an 11-year federal prison term for his conviction on eight counts of giving false information to a bank. The same jury tossed out 78 other charges related to fraud.
Questions have arisen about possible conflicts Ward had in prosecuting Johnson. Court papers and other document show Rawlings also has been collecting evidence on former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the 2010 campaign of Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, the Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section and other matters.
Jeremy Johnson ran an internet marketing company before he was sued by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly failing to disclose charges to consumers. He later was charged criminally.