North Salt Lake man accused of fraud

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Attorney General's Office has filed charges against a man who allegedly persuaded people to invest in a company that makes a skateboard-type toy but then diverted funds for other business ventures and personal spending.

Dwight Shane Baldwin, 29, of North Salt Lake, has been charged in 3rd District Court with two counts of securities fraud and two counts of theft, both second-degree felonies.

Court documents state that Baldwin convinced two individuals to invest $200,000 in one of his companies, Silver Leaf Capital, which in turn would be invested in another firm that manufactures the "Yo Baby," a skateboard without wheels intended to be used on carpet.

A Utah Department of Commerce investigator said the investors became wary when they could not get answers to questions about the funds they had invested.

The investigator alleges that some of the investors' money intended for Silver Leaf Capital was diverted to two other firms Baldwin owned.

The investigator said that money also was spent on such things as car payments, Utah Jazz season tickets, American Express bills, restaurant meals, and $37,500 for a party held during the Sundance Film Festival.

— Linda Thomson