SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A California man who was the founder and president of a natural gas and oil company in Utah faces charges in that state alleging he defrauded investors.
The Deseret News reports that the Utah Attorney General’s Office on Friday charged 60-year-old Spencer Kent Barton of Fresno with multiple counts of securities fraud and other crimes.
Charging documents alleged Barton obtained approximately $359,000 in investments for Empire Energy, but withdrew approximately $151,000 in cash and made $28,000 in purchases “consistent with personal use.”
People were interested in these podcasts
An arrest warrant was issued Friday for Barton, who formerly lived in Ferron in Emery County in rural east-central Utah.
Court records don’t list an attorney who could comment on the allegations and no phone is listed under Barton’s name.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.