Davis County Investigation Materials Detail Internal Concerns, Conflicting Accounts, and Operational Questions Involving OUR
A collection of investigative records from the Davis County Attorney’s Office and Utah Attorney General’s Office outlines internal communications, witness statements, and evidentiary materials related to an investigation involving Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR).
Scope of the Investigation
The records reflect an active investigation by Davis County, with awareness and partial involvement from the FBI and the Utah Attorney General’s Office. At the time of the communications, no criminal charges had been filed, and materials referenced represent a portion of a much larger evidentiary record.
Use of Psychic “Readings” in Operations
Internal communications from Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings describe the use of information from Janet Russon, who claimed to receive guidance from deceased Mormon figures, including Nephi.
According to the records:
- These “readings” were used as part of operational intelligence
- Thousands of pages of such material were included in investigative files
- Concerns were raised that donors were not informed of this method of intelligence gathering
Findings Regarding Haiti Operation Narrative
A Davis County investigative report analyzing video and witness evidence related to a Haiti operation involving the search for a child known as Gardy Mardy found discrepancies between public statements and recorded evidence.
The report states:
- The event appeared to be “completely fabricated and/or drastically exaggerated” in public retellings
- No clear evidence of trafficked children was identified in the reviewed material
- Claims of armed confrontation and danger were not supported by video or witness accounts
- The report concludes that “nearly all” public statements made about the incident were false
Statements from David Lopez
The file includes a detailed interview with David Lopez, a former Navy SEAL who worked with Ballard and associated entities.
According to the investigative summary:
- Lopez stated OUR operations increasingly shifted away from law enforcement–driven missions toward fundraising and media narratives
- He described concerns that operations were being conducted or presented in ways that did not reflect actual conditions on the ground
- Lopez stated that some rescue narratives were exaggerated or constructed for public consumption
- He also described organizational structures involving multiple entities and funding streams connected to Ballard
Lopez further stated that the organization’s public messaging and documentary portrayals did not accurately reflect operational realities.
Jon Lines and Carlos Rodriguez Discussions
The materials reference interactions involving Jon Lines, a former Homeland Security Investigations official associated with OUR, and Carlos Rodriguez.
According to the records:
- Jon Lines was brought into OUR to work with law enforcement coordination
- Communications involving Lines and others raised concerns about how operations and narratives were being represented
- The file includes references to communications and materials involving Carlos Rodriguez related to OUR activities
The investigation materials indicate that these discussions were part of broader concerns regarding potential misrepresentation of operations and fundraising narratives, though the full substance of those communications is contained within the evidentiary attachments referenced in the file.
Financial and Organizational Concerns
The records reflect inquiries into:
- The use of donor funds
- Whether funds were routed through multiple entities connected to Ballard
- The relationship between nonprofit activities and for-profit ventures
Investigators sought accounting records related to donor funds and questioned how those funds were distributed among agencies and programs.
Conflict of Interest Safeguards
An internal memorandum from the Utah Attorney General’s Office established a formal conflict screen due to:
- Personal relationships between Attorney General Sean Reyes, his chief of staff, and Ballard/OUR
- The need to prevent interference with the Davis County and FBI investigation
The memo prohibited communication between Reyes and investigators or prosecutors regarding the case.
Overall Assessment in the Records
The materials document:
- Investigative scrutiny of OUR’s public narratives and operational claims
- Witness statements raising concerns about exaggeration and misrepresentation
- Internal and external discussions regarding potential fraud-related issues
- Structural and financial questions about how operations were conducted and presented
These records represent investigative findings, interviews, and internal communications. They do not constitute a final adjudication or criminal determination.
