Recently uncovered information sheds light on the unsavory strip club scene in Salt Lake City, where patrons are promised encounters with the “hottest girls” and alluring lap dances. Remarkably, these establishments are linked to allegations of misconduct involving Tim Ballard, the acclaimed anti-trafficking activist and founder of Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). OUR’s missions aimed to rescue child sex slaves, but a bombshell lawsuit, filed on behalf of five unnamed women, contends that Ballard sexually manipulated, abused, and harassed these women while on missions.
The suit alleges that Ballard employed a ‘couple’s ruse’ tactic, where female operatives posed as his wife during these missions. Ballard maintained that this ploy was to deter traffickers from offering underage sex to male operatives, claiming that their ‘wives’ were present and would not permit it. However, his accusers assert that this tactic provided Ballard with opportunities to coerce them into sexual acts while in various states of undress. Shockingly, the lawsuit reveals that Ballard took female colleagues on strip club excursions in Salt Lake City to ‘practice’ their ‘sexual chemistry.’
While at these strip clubs, the women were reportedly made to partake in activities such as tantric yoga, couple’s massages with escorts, and lap dances for Ballard. The strip club visits were framed as training sessions for the female operatives. One of the accusers claimed that Ballard took her on a strip club crawl, visiting Trails Gentlemen’s Club, Exotic Kitty, and The American Bush, with the intent to gauge her responses in ‘intense’ scenarios.
Trails Gentlemen’s Club describes itself as a ‘mega adult club,’ Exotic Kitty labels itself as Salt Lake City’s ‘top gentleman’s club,’ and The American Bush offers private lap dances ranging from $250 for 30 minutes to $450 for an hour. The lawsuit highlights that Ballard’s behavior at these establishments was extreme, including his use of the ‘couple’s ruse’ tactic, and he even received lap dances from female operatives.
One woman, identified as D.M., detailed an incident where Ballard’s son joined the group at a strip club and admitted to taking something given to him by his father, presumably a pill. D.M. considered this inappropriate behavior.
After visiting several clubs, the group wrapped up their night around 4 a.m. The following day, Ballard allegedly described in graphic detail how the ‘couple’s ruse’ would involve intimate actions and asked D.M. repeatedly if she would be willing to perform explicit sexual acts. D.M. stated that Ballard led to physical contact, including touching, rubbing, and inappropriate advances. The alleged assault ceased when a male colleague entered the room.
The lawsuit, which was filed by five women in Utah, contains additional disturbing allegations, including that Ballard sent explicit photos to at least one woman and inquired about how far she would go to save children. Two other women filed a separate lawsuit accusing Ballard of sexual assault and grooming, leading to the dissolution of their marriage.
Ballard, a prominent figure in anti-trafficking advocacy, has faced allegations of misconduct since Vice News first reported them. Despite having received praise and support from high-profile figures, his reputation is now tarnished, and he has been abandoned by some of his previous allies. The allegations include claims that he took ketamine while dictating messages from a deceased Mormon prophet predicting his rise to the presidency of the United States and the role of a Mormon prophet in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The strip clubs involved in these allegations have not been accused of any wrongdoing. The women who brought the lawsuits contend that they were threatened with legal action, required to delete messages, sign non-disclosure agreements, and handed burner phones with tracking capabilities. They also assert that speaking out about their experiences would jeopardize the lives of individuals involved in anti-trafficking missions.
Ballard, responding through The SPEAR Fund, his new anti-trafficking venture, vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he looks forward to vindicating his name in court and that evidence, not unsubstantiated media accusations, should decide the outcome of these claims.