The Cache County Sheriff’s Office is investigating reports that a man has been impersonating Big Blue and allegedly scamming community members. Police now believe they have identified the suspect, whose real name is Christian Scott Fairbanks.
Fairbanks claims to be a student, but that fact has not been verified yet. Associate vice president for student services Eric Olsen said if he is a student, Utah State University will examine whether to press charges.
“The student code indicates you are to follow state and federal laws, so if you’re charged with a crime, you’ve broken the student code,” Olsen said. “We would look at that and determine if there’s action that needs to be taken and go from there.”
Operating under the pseudonym Chris King, Fairbanks wore the famed Big Blue jersey as he went door-to-door in Nibley and Providence last week, often introducing himself as Big Blue. Spirit squad coach Nicole Troumbley was perplexed as to how he was able to get the jersey. She expressed concern that he was abusing the image of Big Blue, which is owned by the university.
Fairbanks offered to repaint residents’ curb numbers for $25, but gave varying accounts as to what the money was for – sometimes he said it was for the Big Blue Scholarship fund, sometimes for the cheer squad, other times even the Utah State University Robotics Club. The man identifying himself as King told Heidi Hickman that it was for an after-school reading program.
“I mean, at least give them the same story,” said Hickman, a Nibley resident. “He got fidgety once you started to ask him more questions, and then he was like, ‘Okay, see you.’”
Fairbanks claimed he was raising money for the Royal Academy for Music and the Dramatic Arts, or RAMDA, an after-school program he directs in Hyde Park. He also said the funds were for Afterschool Alliance, a free after-school program for children.
A man claimed to be representing Fairbanks, but who declined to give his name, defended the work that was done.
“The funds that are being raised – they’re offering a service. That service is being provided. And we have over 52 names of people who have confirmed that the services that was offered was provided to them,” he said. “It’s been a great fundraiser.”
According to the man claiming to be Fairbanks' representative, Fairbanks plans on pressing charges of libel against the Utah Statesman for publishing an article, although the article did not identify Fairbanks.
It is unclear what charges will be pressed, but several people – including Hickman – have reported fraud to the Cache County Sheriff’s Office.
Fairbanks claims to be a student, but that fact has not been verified yet. Associate vice president for student services Eric Olsen said if he is a student, Utah State University will examine whether to press charges.
“The student code indicates you are to follow state and federal laws, so if you’re charged with a crime, you’ve broken the student code,” Olsen said. “We would look at that and determine if there’s action that needs to be taken and go from there.”
Operating under the pseudonym Chris King, Fairbanks wore the famed Big Blue jersey as he went door-to-door in Nibley and Providence last week, often introducing himself as Big Blue. Spirit squad coach Nicole Troumbley was perplexed as to how he was able to get the jersey. She expressed concern that he was abusing the image of Big Blue, which is owned by the university.
Fairbanks offered to repaint residents’ curb numbers for $25, but gave varying accounts as to what the money was for – sometimes he said it was for the Big Blue Scholarship fund, sometimes for the cheer squad, other times even the Utah State University Robotics Club. The man identifying himself as King told Heidi Hickman that it was for an after-school reading program.
“I mean, at least give them the same story,” said Hickman, a Nibley resident. “He got fidgety once you started to ask him more questions, and then he was like, ‘Okay, see you.’”
Fairbanks claimed he was raising money for the Royal Academy for Music and the Dramatic Arts, or RAMDA, an after-school program he directs in Hyde Park. He also said the funds were for Afterschool Alliance, a free after-school program for children.
A man claimed to be representing Fairbanks, but who declined to give his name, defended the work that was done.
“The funds that are being raised – they’re offering a service. That service is being provided. And we have over 52 names of people who have confirmed that the services that was offered was provided to them,” he said. “It’s been a great fundraiser.”
According to the man claiming to be Fairbanks' representative, Fairbanks plans on pressing charges of libel against the Utah Statesman for publishing an article, although the article did not identify Fairbanks.
It is unclear what charges will be pressed, but several people – including Hickman – have reported fraud to the Cache County Sheriff’s Office.
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