An Ashland man who has pleaded not guilty to selling illegally-obtained dinosaur bones from Utah can continue work with a newly-formed Ashland-based company that makes children’s educational toys — but is prohibited from making dinosaur dig kits, a federal judge recently ruled.

Jordan Willing, 40, was ordered by Utah Magistrate Judge Cecilia M. Romero to abide by those conditions of release following a Nov. 29 hearing in Salt Lake City in which he and three other defendants were denied release on their own recognizance. 

Willing’s attorneys, Jeremy Delicino and Rachel Cannon, did not immediately respond to request for comment. 

Willing, of Ashland; Steven Willing, 67, of Los Angeles; Vint Wade, 65; and Donna Wade, 67, both of Moab, Utah, have all pleaded not guilty in the U.S. District of Utah to allegations that they used an Ashland-based company, JMW Sales, to export and sell illegally obtained Utah-based dinosaur bones to China as part of a criminal conspiracy.

Willing took a leave of absence from leading  JMW Sales once his criminal case became public. He then became involved with another Ashland-based business — Giant Leap Products LLC — which has a similar mission, according to court filings. Giant Leap Products was not named by federal prosecutors in their case against Willing and the other three defendants. 

Willing was allegedly not truthful with pretrial services personnel as to his role as president of another company, prosecutors said in an earlier court filing opposing the Ashland man’s request for release on his own recognizance. The filing redacted the name of the business Willing was allegedly not truthful about.

According to his release conditions, Willing may continue employment with Giant Leap Products, LLC, but until his criminal case is resolved, he can only file new patents and cannot manufacture, sell or ship with Broad Ocean and NorthStar, two other entities associated with his company.

What’s more, “Giant Leap Products, LLC shall not sell, acquire, trade, design, etc., any dinosaur dig kits,” Romero wrote in her order, nor can Willing attend any gem or mineral shows.

Willing’s conditions extend not just to his businesses, but to his personal life, according to the judge’s order. He must not break any laws while released and must appear in Utah court whenever there’s a hearing in his case. 

Willing must maintain employment and not change his address without approval of his pretrial officer; cannot travel outside of the state and the U.S. without the approval of the court; must surrender his passport and cannot apply for a new one; and must not possess a firearm or a dangerous weapon.

A jury trial originally scheduled for December was reset to begin on July 8, 2024. The proceedings are expected to last 10 days.