New Office of Professional Licensure Review Aims to Reduce Barriers for Obtaining Professional License in Utah

Recently signed SB 16 creates a robust review process for all state-issued licenses. SALT LAKE CITY –  Amid growing labor shortages, a new government office has been formed to find ways to make it easier for Utahns to practice their chosen career without compromising the appropriate need for public safeguards. In Utah, approximately 25% of working professions require a state …

Utah Business Owner Sentenced in $200 Million Ponzi Scheme

Note: Andrew Choate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office is also available for information on this case. He can be reached at (801) 325-1423. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Mar 8, 2022) – Utah business owner Gaylen Rust will serve 19 years in federal prison for running a $200 million, multi state Ponzi scheme. A U.S. District Court Judge sentenced Rust on …

Operators of Investment Coaching Scheme Banned from Industry and Ordered to Pay Millions in Redress to Defrauded Consumers

Real Estate Investment Coaching Operation Promoted by TV House Flipping Celebrities Settles with the FTC and Utah Division of Consumer Protection The operators of a massive real estate investment coaching scheme face permanent bans and will pay approximately $12 million for consumer redress as part of a settlement in a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission and the Utah …

Governor Cox Proposes Occupational Licensure Review Process After Receiving Reports From First Executive Order

[Salt Lake City] – Governor Spencer Cox has proposed a new Systemic Licensure Review Process after receiving agency reports to his first Executive Order addressing occupational licensing. This new process will ensure that Utah’s license reform efforts continue long after the executive order. “Regulatory creep is real. Regulations exist to protect the health and safety of Utah residents, but tend …

Gov. Spencer Cox and Attorney General Sean Reyes Announce $26 Billion Agreement with Opioid Distributors/Manufacturer

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Attorney General Sean D. Reyes today announced a historic $26 billion agreement that will help bring desperately needed relief to people across the country who are struggling with opioid addiction. The agreement includes Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – and Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured …

Be on Alert for Driveway Repair Scam This Summer

[Salt Lake City] — Warmer temperatures bring many Utahns outdoors for home improvement projects. The Utah Department of Commerce warns that higher temperatures also lead to an increase in a perennial scam: the “Leftover Materials Driveway Repair” scam. “It’s not new. It happens every year. We can set our watches to it. But every year, someone new falls into the …

Department of Commerce Announces Appointment of Two New Division Directors

[Salt Lake City] — Executive Director Margaret Woolley Busse announced the appointment of two Division Directors for the Utah Department of Commerce: Leigh Veillette as the Director of the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, and Jason Sterzer as Director of the Division of Securities. “As the best place for business in the United States, the Department of Commerce needs …

SCAM ALERT: Veterans Targeted by Fraudsters Posing as Government

[Salt Lake City] — A new scam targeting military veterans and their families emerged recently in Utah. The Utah Division of Consumer Protection and Department of Veterans and Military Affairs are raising the alarm to get the word out to veterans and their families. “Our veterans have already done so much for their communities, they deserve better. Scammers have no …