Former Green Beret loses bid to get federal fraud case transferred

A federal judge has denied the request of former Green Beret Michael Taylor to move his criminal trial from Utah to Boston, where his family and business are located.

U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell issued the order Friday, citing "intervening events," but did not provide any specifics. The judge left open the possibility for Taylor to renew the request in the future.

Taylor, 51, is charged in two criminal cases with multiple counts of conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice. He is being held in the Tooele County Jail until his trial, which is set to begin Nov. 26. American International Security Corp., Taylor's company, also is named in one of the criminal cases.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah alleges Taylor and two other men — David Young and Christopher Harris — conspired to rig a military contract for equipment maintenance and training services during the transfer of security in Afghanistan. The initial contract for just under $900,000 was subsequently extended and expanding, eventually netting Taylor's company $54 million. The three men later pocketed about half that money, according to court documents.

All three pleaded not guilty to charges outlined in the 72-count indictment issued by a Utah grand jury in August. Taylor also faces charges that he tried to bribe an FBI agent to thwart the investigation as it pertained to him and his company.

brooke@sltrib.com