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A state probe into the fund-raising activities and political contributions of Envision Ogden is still pending, but those who launched it fear the statute of limitations on potential crimes will expire before the Attorney General's office concludes its investigation.
"The events that we're looking at occurred in 2007," said Assistant Attorney General Scott Reed. "If you do the math, there's generally a four-year limitation on criminal felony conduct. So there would be a statute of limitations issue coming up early next year."
Reed declined further comment because the case is still active.
The statute of limitations deadline gives Ogden activist Dan Schroeder cause for concern.
Schroeder, along with Rep. Neil Hansen, D-Ogden had separately scrutinized Envision Ogden's actions in 2007 and 2008. Hansen first met with the Attorney General's office about the matter in March 2009. It then was turned over to the state Department of Public Safety (DPS) for investigation.
In a Nov. 20 letter to Reed, Schroeder reiterated details from a June 2009 DPS report and urged the AG's office to take immediate action.
"I am simply stunned to realize that despite your awareness of this chronology and the statute of limitations, you have allowed this case to stagnate for the last 14 months," Schroeder told Reed.
In early 2007, Envision Ogden was formed to raise funds to boost the city's economy by building its image as an high-adventure recreation destination.
Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey said his office solicited a good portion of the $87,000 in contributions. However, later that year $20,690 was diverted to two city council campaigns by way of an organization called "Friends of Northern Utah Real Estate."
In 2008, Envision Ogden donated to a state legislative campaign — and belatedly registered as a Political Action Committee after a complaint had been filed with the Lieutenant Governor's office.
In October of this year, Envision Ogden emptied its coffers with a final $3,453 donation to the state Republican Party.
Several donors told investigators they would not — and could not — have given to Envision Ogden had they known the funds would be used for political purposes.
On June 30, 2009, the 31-page DPS report concluded: "The fact that the Ogden City Attorney, the FBI and US Attorney, Lieutenant Governor's Office and now the Utah State Attorney General had declined to do anything with this case, it will be closed."
After obtaining a copy of the report, Schroeder and Hansen convinced the AG's office to reopen the investigation in the fall of 2009.
Last month, Hansen and Schroeder released the DPS findings to the media, frustrated that the investigation had seemingly stalled.
To Godfrey, that was a sign the case had no merit, calling it "two-year-old news that hasn't moved forward because obviously their accusations aren't valid."