Polygamist leaders arrested over misuse of food stamps
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Police are searching businesses in the polygamous town on the Utah-Arizona border. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah said in statement Tuesday that federal, state and local authorities are carrying out actions approved by a court. Officials didn’t elaborate, saying court documents are sealed.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Several leaders from Warren Jeffs’ polygamous sect are expected to make their initial court appearances Wednesday after their arrests on federal allegations of food stamp fraud and money laundering.
The suspects were arrested Tuesday on accusations of orchestrating a yearslong fraud scheme instructing members how to use food-stamp benefits illegally for the benefit of the faith and avoid getting caught.
U.S. attorneys say 11 people were charged, including Lyle Jeffs and Seth Jeffs. They are top-ranking leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and brothers of imprisoned sect leader Warren Jeffs.
The charges are the government’s latest move targeting the sect based on the Utah-Arizona border, coinciding with legal battles over child labor and discrimination against nonbelievers.
U.S. Attorney John Huber says: “This indictment is not about religion. This indictment is about fraud.”
3 responses to “Polygamist leaders arrested over misuse of food stamps”
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“U.S. Attorney John Huber says: “This indictment is not about religion. This indictment is about fraud.”” Exactly. Fraud in their usage of food stamps, and fraud in calling the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints a religion.
It’s about time. For decades the State of Utah looked the other way when it came to the plygs and their scams and thefts. Food stamp fraud, welfare fraud, underage children working in construction and orchards,sex abuse,child brides, tax fraud… This is just the tip of the iceberg.
There is a special place for these kinds of people, and it’s not in America.