Envision Ogden Political Contribution Money Laundering Scandal Redux

Ace Reporter Schwebke continues to dig and report

Top notch Scott Schwebke writeup in this morning's Standard-Examiner, shedding more light on details of the Envision Ogden political contribution money laundering scandal. Ace Reporter Schwebke has been playing the gumshoe this week doing interviews, and adds this additional info to what's become a rapidly developing and eye-opening story:

1) Political Donors: Schwebke has interviewed several; and to the last one of them he quotes, none admits to having been told beforehand that their donations would be applied to the campaigns of Eccles, Johnson (or Godfrey.) Most are expressing their ire and righteous indignation; one isn't.

2) Envision Ogden: Mr. Schwebke clarifies who currently runs Envision Ogden. Jeff Lucas admits to being the current Treasurer. Abe Shreve, who's currently lying low, apparently still heads the organization.

3) Friends of Northern Utah Real Estate (FNURE): Although the facts surrounding this shadowy organization still remain murky, Mr. Schwebke does add several tantalizing facts to the story plot. While Blain Johnson goes on record to the extent of representing that FNURE was operated by employees of a title company (Lincoln Title, which operates from Mr. Johnson's office building,) Johnson mysteriously and inexplicably refuses to name names. Even more strangely, attorney Mel Smith, both a partner in Johnson's law firm and the owner of Lincoln Title, claims he knows nothing of FNURE at all. And to top it all, Jeff Lucas, the Envision Ogden treasurer who would have presumably written $20 thousand+ in checks to FNURE, claims he doesn't know beans about this shadowy campaign funds middle man either. The silence on this aspect of the story is deafening, and strains credibility, to say the very least.

Although Mr. Schwebke has done some fine work on this story, there still remains much to be done.

Among other things, it would be interesting to get more information on Envision Ogden's Salomon Center Sneak Preview. Did Envision Ogden actually lease the rec center for the night, or did Boss Godfrey merely provide them keys to the place gratis?