A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City has indicted two Utah businessmen on multiple charges, including wire fraud and money laundering. Aaron A. Wagner, 42, and Michael Mains, 46, both from Alpine, Utah, are accused of defrauding investors and lenders involved with restaurant businesses such as Dirty Bird, Everbowl, and Crumbl Cookies.
Wagner was initially charged on October 23, 2024. Both Wagner and Mains were formally indicted on November 6, 2024. The indictment alleges that since March 2021, the pair orchestrated a scheme to deceive investors into sending millions of dollars to entities under their control through Wagscap Food Services, LLC. These entities included Hello Sugar, Dirty Bird, Everbowl, Crumbl Cookies, Las Botellas among others.
According to court documents, Wagner misled investors by showcasing a lavish lifestyle financed largely by funds allegedly stolen from the businesses they were meant to support. It is claimed he used new investor money obtained through fraudulent means to falsely satisfy previous investors.
The scheme reportedly generated over $40 million from investors. Wagner and Mains allegedly diverted these funds for personal purchases such as a $4 million second home in Scottsdale, Arizona; an $8 million personal airplane; a $4.5 million commercial property intended for development into a nightclub; and an $8 million real estate property in Missoula, Montana.
Both men face charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud along with transactional and concealment money laundering. Their initial court appearance took place on November 8 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City. A jury trial is scheduled for February 3, 2025.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins announced the indictment while the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office leads the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carl D. LeSueur and Brent L. Andrus are prosecuting the case.
Individuals who believe they may be victims or have information related to this alleged fraud are encouraged to contact authorities via email at wagnermainsfraud@fbi.gov.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.