For years, Aaron Wagner appeared to have every reason to smile — and he rarely missed a chance to show off the dazzling white veneers that became part of his carefully curated image.
There was the glamorous wife, seven young children and a luxury lifestyle designed to impress: a sprawling $5.3 million mansion, access to a $2 million black private jet for far-flung getaways, and a high-end car collection that included both a Rolls-Royce and a Lamborghini.
Wagner, 44, claimed the trappings of wealth came from his Utah real estate firm, Wags Capital. In reality, federal prosecutors say, the image he sold was built on deception.
Last week, Wagner reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, admitting to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit fraud and bank fraud.
As part of the deal, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to divert investor funds meant for property developments to bankroll his extravagant personal spending. Wagner also admitted conspiring to raise money for one project and then using it to pay for another.
Now his estranged wife, Candace Wagner, has spoken to Our News Outlet, condemning the man she says is fighting her efforts to finalize their divorce and rebuild her life.
Aaron Wagner often showcased his gleaming white smile on Instagram — along with the luxury lifestyle that prosecutors now say was funded through criminal conduct
Wagner is seen during a recent hot yoga session. He faces decades in prison when he is sentenced in November
Court papers seen by Our News Outlet show that Wagner has been granted just three hours of custody with his children a week, on a Saturday morning.
That fledgling arrangement will not be maintained for long though, with Wagner staring down a lengthy stretch in prison when he is sentenced in November. He faces up to 80 years behind bars if a judge imposes the maximum sentence.
Candace confirmed the family’s lavish lifestyle is but a memory thanks to her husband’s disgrace and said Wagner is frustrating her attempts to move on.
‘He’s just been dragging [the divorce] out as long as possible,’ she said: ‘It’s been 26 months now of me trying to get a divorce from him.
‘I filed six months before the feds came along. With him going to prison now, he still won’t settle.
‘So we’ll have our trial in March [next year] with him behind bars. I’ve had full custody of the kids since I filed back in June 2024.
Wagner with his now-estranged wife, Candace, and their children aboard their private jet
The Wagners lived in a $5.3 million mansion in Alpine, Utah, but moved out after Wagner was indicted
‘He was removed from the home with a protective order for the seven minor kids and one for me.
‘So there hasn’t been a need to communicate with him. And he’s a compulsive liar so it was a waste of time to even try with him.’
Candace first filed for divorce in 2023, but reconciled with her self-proclaimed ‘ultrapreneur’ husband shortly after and asked a court to dismiss proceedings.
Sadly, the rapprochement was short-lived and Wagner filed for divorce again in June 2024 on learning that her husband had been indicted for fraud.
Candace said she had no idea of her husband’s crimes until the feds came after him.
Relations have now deteriorated to the point where the former couple have been banned from going within 100 yards of each other’s homes.
Wagner, 44, presented himself as a successful ‘ultrapreneur’ but was using investor cash to illegally fund his lavish lifestyle
The photos of Wagner and Candace on his social media presents a sharp contrast to their ongoing divorce battle
They can only communicate with one another through an intermediary, according to divorce papers seen by Our News Outlet.
After the initial split, Candace took to Instagram and said her ex had ‘sold his soul to the devil.’
The distraught mother was unable to say why she thinks Wagner is dragging his heels with the divorce.
She claims to have been told that Wagner struck a plea deal which will see him spend 10 years behind bars.
The original indictment against him contained 16 criminal charges, while he ultimately admitted to just three, with the rest subsequently dropped.
Candace said she sympathizes with those scammed by her husband and added that she too had suffered greatly as a result of his misdeeds.
Wagner shared Instagram posts telling his 206,000 followers to try ‘envisioning’ their way to success, while making no mention of the fraudulent methods he used
The black private jet used by the Wagner family is seen inside a hangar in a photo shared by Wagner on Instagram
The Wagners enjoying an exotic vacation in 2022. Candace Wagner now says her husband is refusing to divorce her and that she has lost her home
She said: ‘I wasn’t sure if [the federal charges] were true… I think he got off easy with a 10 year deal.
‘The victims deserve justice. He’s done a lot of horrible things to really good people out there.
‘I am heartbroken for what he’s done to good hardworking trusting people.
‘Financially I was left without access to any of the marital estate so my kids and I had to relocate with family in another state.’
Divorce documents seen by Our News Outlet indicate that Candace had moved to Idaho with the children, but the court in Utah ordered her to return so Wagner could be closer to the kids.
The former family home – a mansion in Alpine, Utah – is in Candace’s name, with feds previously vowing to seize it in the event of any conviction.
Wagner and Candace enjoying a lavish dinner before their split and Wagner’s conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering and fraud. The couple’s divorce has become so fraught that they must now contact one another through an intermediary
The Wagners’ mansion in a photo shared by federal prosecutors
It is unclear where Wagner will serve his sentence and if this will free Candace to move back to Utah while he is imprisoned.
Candace is now facing a very uncertain future but is determined to do so with grit.
She added: ‘I’m okay to lose anything that didn’t rightfully belong to me. I hope the victims losses can be made whole again.
‘I know the government prosecutors are really good high value men. They want restitution for the victims. I have faith they know what they are doing.’
Lawyers for Aaron Wagner declined to comment when contacted by Our News Outlet.
