Last updatedTuesday, November 30, 2010 - 3:03pm

http://www.standard.net/topics/opinion/2010/11/30/envision-ogden-antics-resemble-money-laundering

(UNEDITED) Whenever Ogden Mayor Godfrey's campaign contributor list comes out, it is filled with businesses that are viewed as greasing the mayor's palms with outsized checks, in exchange for favors received. But these men shun the light of day. So Godfrey's cronies concocted a scheme to hide donor's identities from the public. First, businesses wrote checks to an entity called Envision Ogden. Then that cash was moved to a shell company called FNURE. Then, FNURE flipped the dough to Godfrey's favored city council candidates, concealing the true source of the funds. It sure looks like money laundering, and it came to light only because a local professor, Dan Schroeder, ferreted out the slimy details. Eventually a state investigation was launched, with a long list of possible laws violated.

The local newspaper seemed interested in this scandal only after it became public through other media outlets. Then, this newspaper's reporter made snide and condescending remarks regarding the intrepid Dr. Schroeder, on Facebook. Rather than thank Schroeder for doing his job for him, the reporter made fun of him online. But it's no surprise, because it seems most of the local reporting of the mayor is so one-sided, the mayor could have written the articles himself.

A state investigation continues regarding Ogden's high level communication fraud, sham organizations and money laundering, while the local reporter cozies up to the questionable mayor and maligns the unpaid, citizen investigator. No wonder our beautiful city continues to maintain a reputation as a dirty town.