TWO MORE MEMBERS OF A SILT FAMILY EMBROILED IN A HIGH-PROFILE EMBEZZLEMENT CASE HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED IN THE EXPANDING INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGED MULTI-YEAR SCAM AT THE BEAR WALLOW RANCH, OWNED BY WAFFLE HOUSE CEO JOE ROGERS JR. AND HIS WIFE.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT 25 YEAR-OLD TYLER FARRIS AND 22-YEAR-OLD DUSTIN FARRIS, JOINED THEIR PARENTS, CHARLES AND CHARLA FARRIS IN A LONG CHAIN OF THEFTS OF MONEY, LIVESTOCK AND EQUIPMENT FROM THE RANCH, WHICH MAY ULTIMATELY TOTAL MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS. THE GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ISSUED WARRANTS LAST WEEK FOR TYLER AND DUSTIN, WHO BOTH TURNED THEMSELVES IN TO MESA COUNTY AUTHORITIES THE NEXT DAY. BOTH SONS ARE CHARGED WITH FELONY THEFT BETWEEN 5-AND-20 THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND TYLER TYLER FACES ADDITIONAL CHARGES OF FELONY POSESSION OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON AND MISDEMEANOR CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. OFFICERS ARRESTED THEIR PARENTS ON FELONY CHARGES IN THE CASE LAST MONTH.
AUTHORITIES SAY THAT TYLER WAS PAID BY HIS PARENTS AS IF HE WERE A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AT THE RANCH, BUT WAS ACTUALLY WORKING AT HIS OWN COMPANIES, TYLER FARRIS BUCKING BULLS AND OUTCAST PRODUCTIONS. INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT BOTH COMPANIES WERE AT LEAST PARTIALLY FUNDED BY MONEY FUNNELED FROM THE BEAR WALLOW RANCH. THE FELONY WEAPON CHARGE WAS ADDED WHEN A SHORT-BARRELLED SHOTGUN WAS FOUND IN TYLER’S RESIDENCE, AND THE CHARGE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY STEMS FROM A GROUP OF EMACIATED HORSES THAT WERE FOUND ON PROPERTY LEASED BY TYLER.
SON DUSTIN FARRIS IS ALSO ACCUSED OF SIPHONING RANCH FUNDS TO PAY FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PERSONAL EXPENSES, AND ITEMS THAT WERE NOT USED AT THE RANCH.
CHARLES AND CHARLA FARRIS HAD WORKED AS THE RANCH’S MANAGER AND BOOKKEEPER FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. THE TWO BROTHERS ARE SCHEDULED FOR A BOND HEARING ON JULY 26TH, AND THEIR PARENTS WILL NEXT APPEAR IN COURT ON SEPTEMBER 21ST.
