An Ashland man accused in a criminal conspiracy to export and sell illegally obtained dinosaur bones to China … a federal judge ruled. 

Jordan Willing, 41, had argued, in part, that his right to a fair trial would be violated and “undue prejudice” would occur if he were tried with co-defendants Steven Willing, 68, and Vint Wade, 65, and Donna Wade, 67. 

But prosecutors argued, in part, that joint trials, particularly in conspiracy cases, are preferred under the law. Prosecutors also argued that Jordan Willing could not make the “requisite demonstration that he will suffer actual prejudice” if he is tried with his co-defendants.

In a response to those claims, Jordan Willing argued, in part, that the government’s case against him relies on “prejudicial and inadmissible ‘spillover’ evidence” that is not tied to him.

Jordan Willing had proposed his trial begin this summer, despite U.S. District Judge David Nuffer’s earlier ruling that a 4-week jury trial be scheduled to begin Jan. 27, 2025, in Salt Lake City. 

Jordan Willing is accused of using JMW Sales with his father, Steven Willing, of Los Angeles to purchase 150,000 pounds of paleontological resources, including dinosaur bones, for $1.4 million from Moab, Utah couple Vint Wade and Donna Wade between March 2018 until at least March 2023.

The Willings and the Wades have all pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including violating the Paleontological Resources Act, a 2009 federal law that prohibits anyone from knowingly selling, purchasing or exporting any fossilized remains.