The Special Investigations Unit leads the Office’s most complex and high-impact criminal investigations, including multi-jurisdictional fraud, public corruption, officer-involved incidents, and conflict cases that require independent review.

In one such investigation, the Office of the Utah Attorney General uncovered a nearly $1 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme orchestrated by James Miller, who falsely portrayed himself as a successful investor to solicit large sums of money from friends, family members, and women he met through church and social media. Investigators determined that Miller relied on deception, false promises, and fabricated emergencies to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars, ultimately funneling the funds into fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.

The Office charged Miller with multiple felony counts of securities fraud, communications fraud, and money laundering after documenting $412,500 in verified victim losses at the time of filing. Miller has since pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and is awaiting sentencing, bringing accountability in a case marked by significant financial exploitation and abuse of trust.