On Friday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah dismissed all charges against Carter Lane Lucas, concluding a comprehensive investigation into allegations relating to federal COVID-19 relief funds. The dismissal comes after a thorough review of the evidence and just days before the case was set to go to trial on December 2, 2024.

“This case never should have been charged,” said Aaron Clark of Dentons, attorney for Mr. Lucas. “From the outset, Mr. Lucas has been confident that he did nothing wrong and was fully prepared to prove at trial that the allegations were baseless. We are relieved that the government has chosen to dismiss these charges and bring this matter to a close.”

The case centered on two loan applications Mr. Lucas submitted for federal COVID-19 relief programs: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Evidence suggested, however, that Mr. Lucas did not intend to misrepresent any information, and the government recently acknowledged the alleged errors would likely not have ultimately affected his loan eligibility. The government alleged that Mr. Lucas used the loan proceeds for his personal benefit. Forensic analysis conducted by accounting experts, however, confirmed that all loan proceeds were properly utilized and are being repaid according to program requirements.

The government’s case also relied heavily on Mr. Lucas’ past felony convictions, which stemmed from his struggles with addiction many years ago. This overlooked his remarkable journey of rehabilitation. Since achieving sobriety more than eight years ago, Mr. Lucas has become a respected community leader, mentoring others in recovery and building a successful business that employs local residents.

"This dismissal not only represents justice for Mr. Lucas, but it sends a powerful message about the critical importance of looking beyond surface allegations to understand the full context of these cases,” said Brennan Moss of Parkinson Benson Potter, co-counsel for Mr. Lucas. "The outcome demonstrates how essential it is for prosecutors to consider the complete picture when making charging decisions that can profoundly impact people's lives.”

With this chapter concluded, Mr. Lucas continues his work of community service and business leadership. Many of his friends, family, and colleagues have consistently spoken to his integrity and positive influence. The dismissal allows him to further expand his efforts in mentoring others in recovery and growing his business.

Dentons litigation team was led by shareholder Aaron Clark (SLC) and associate Jake Lee (SLC) and co-counsel Brennan Moss (SLC) of Parkinson Benson Potter.

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