FLDS leader Lyle Jeffs was arrested on Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud along with 10 other members of the polygamist sect. Photo courtesy of Davis County Jail
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- FBI agents raided businesses owned by members of the polygamist Mormon sect in Hildale and Colorado City, Utah, following the unsealing of an indictment that accuses 11 people of conspiracy to defraud the food stamp program.
"This indictment is not about religion. This indictment is about fraud," said U.S. Attorney John W. Huber. "This indictment charges a sophisticated group of individuals operating in the Hildale-Colorado City community who conspired to defraud a program intended to help low-income individuals and families purchase food."
The indictment charges 11 leaders and members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, formerly led by Warren Jeffs, with conspiracy to commit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney in the District of Utah.
Arrest warrants were issued for all defendants charged in the indictment. As of Wednesday morning, six of the 11 had been arrested.
Those facing charges are: Lyle Steed Jeffs, John Clifton Wayman, Kimball Dee Barlow, Winford Johnson Barlow, Rulon Mormon Barlow, Ruth Peine Barlow and Preston Yates Barlow, all of Hildale. Seth Steed Jeffs of Custer, S.D., and Nephi Steed Allred, Hyrum Bygnal Dutson and Kristal Meldrum Dutson, all of Colorado City, were also charged in the indictment.
Lyle Jeffs is the brother of Warren Jeffs, the former leader of the FLDS who is serving a life sentence for sexual assaulting two girls, ages 12 and 15. According to reports, Lyle Jeffs has been running the FLDS in his brother's absence.
"Today's indictment is the culmination of the tireless efforts," said Eric Barnhart, special agent in charge of the FBI's Salt Lake City field office. "The violations included in the indictment are especially egregious since they allege that leaders of the conspiracy directed others to commit crimes, for which only certain people benefited. This type of conduct represents nothing less than pure theft."
