Making good on his promise to make restitution payments, a Vernal man’s prison sentence for defrauding his employer was suspended during sentencing in 8th District Court. According to court documents, 42-year-old Cortney Pierce received $65,000 dollars from his employer in 2014 with the promise that the money would be used to develop a trucking app that he promised would make huge profits. The money was deposited into Pierce’s personal account where over $44,000 dollars was used on personal purchases and only about $16,450 dollars was used on activities related to the app. Pierce was charged with 3rd degree felony Securities Fraud and 2nd degree felony Theft by the State of Utah Attorney General. Pierce pleaded Guilty to Securities Fraud on July 25th, 2017 and the Theft charge was dismissed with prejudice. During a pretrial conference in July it was agreed that if Pierce paid $20,000 dollars on or before sentencing, then the State would recommend court supervised probation until full restitution is paid in place of prison time. During his sentencing on October 31st, Pierce submitted a check for $20,000 dollars. Prison time was suspended and Pierce was ordered to probation and to pay $1,185 dollars per month starting in November until the amount owed is paid in full.
