HEBER CITY — A Wasatch County man who claimed to be a Park City police officer and a Special Forces soldier has been ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor and pay restitution to the Heber City car dealerships he defrauded.
Jeremy Keith Taulborg was sentenced Wednesday in 4th District Court for his guilty pleas to one count of communications fraud, a second-degree felony, and one count of theft, a class B misdemeanor.
Earlier this year, Taulborg wrote bogus checks to separate dealerships for the purchase of a $28,000 Audi and a $45,000 Ford Taurus SHO and still had possession of the cars when the checks were returned by the bank, according to court records.
When Heber City police were called to investigate, they said they determined there had never been sufficient funds in Taulborg's bank accounts to cover either check, which constituted communications fraud. The bank also informed investigators that Taulborg claimed in loan papers that he was a Park City police officer.
Park City officials told the Deseret News that Taulborg has never worked for the police department. The Deseret News was also able to confirm that Taulborg has never served as a special deputy U.S. marshal, a U.S. Army Special Forces sergeant or a police officer in Ohio — all jobs he apparently claimed to hold based on a LinkedIn profile bearing his name that has since been shut down.
In addition to pleading guilty to the communications fraud charge, Taulborg, 27, also admitted to stealing property from an ex-girlfriend following their breakup in March, court records show.
On Wednesday, Judge Steven Hansen ordered Taulborg to serve three years on probation and 90 days in jail, but gave him credit for the 58 days he's already served behind bars. The remaining 32 days will be served under supervision with an ankle monitor so Taulborg can begin to repay $4,000 in restitution to the car dealerships and $1,100 in fines.
Email: gliesik@deseretnews.com, Twitter: GeoffLiesik