Top polygamous leaders arrested in Utah food stamp fraud

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Top polygamous leaders arrested in Utah food stamp fraud

Brady Mccombs and Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press

Updated 5:07 pm, Tuesday, February 23, 2016



Photo: Rick Bowmer, AP

FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2015 file photo, Lyle Jeffs leaves the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016


SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Several top leaders from Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect were arrested Tuesday on federal accusations of food stamp fraud and money laundering — marking one of the biggest crackdowns on the group in years.

The charges are the government's latest move targeting the sect based on the Utah-Arizona border, coinciding with legal battles in two states over child labor and discrimination against nonbelievers.

Prosecutors say church leaders diverted funds from Utah's nutrition assistance program for inappropriate use, including forcing members to put food into a communal storehouse so leaders could divvy it up.

The group, which believes polygamy brings exaltation in heaven, also used the funds to pay thousands for a tractor and a truck, according to indictments from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Authorities-searching-businesses-in-polygamous-6849551.php

[Warpy]

1. Ah yes, that "the curch will get me out of this" smirk

I hope the state of Utah is starting to catch a clue about the real fraud going on and stops jailing mentally ill people with no money over outstanding bills.

[AxionExcel]

6. IOKIYARM*

*It's OK if your a Republican Mormon.

Like all Republicans, you are special - and exempt from responsibility for your actions.

[nichomachus]

2. I'm surprised he wasn't arrested for that hideous wig. Nt

[LoisB]

4. Should have been.

[Mojorabbit]

16. I am glad you said that. I stopped my self from doing so but it needed saying... :) nt

[3catwoman3]

18. Double violation of that pesky little...

..."Thou shalt not bear false witness" commandment - fake hair and food stamp fraud.

[XemaSab]

20. Looks like he scalped Bill Richardson

[LoisB]

3. How can this be? Surely, food stamp fraud is only committed by Black people

buying steaks and lobsters.

[truebluegreen]

7. FLDS doing what they do best: Lying for the Lord nt

[iandhr]

5. I am SHOCKED SHOCKED to find gambling going on here.

[Dont call me Shirley]

8. When you live your life based in nonsensical fantasies, justifying fraud becomes second nature.

[mercuryblues]

9. another scam

they run. The husband has a big house. Each of his wives "live" in smaller homes with a different address on the property. They each collect various benefits as single parents. This is called bleeding the beast.

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/08/03/bleeding-beast-polygamist-sect-accused-abusing-welfare

[underpants]

10. Very common "gaming the system" in Mormon groups

[Ned Flanders]

13. I believe they call it "Bleeding the Beast."

They've incorporated it into their scripture, even.

[47of74]

11. Oh God please let these fuckers get nailed to the wall.

And not have it get thrown on some sort of bullshit technicality.

[djg21]

12. This is not the Mormon church

It is a fundamentalist sect that essentially created a municipality on the Utah-Arizona border (and a number of others in Mexico and Canada, as well as the western US) that is run entirely by the church (the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints or FLDS) and it's "prophet" Warren Jeffs, who appears to be leading the church from a prison cell where he is serving life +20 after being convicted of sexually assaulting two child brides. The town -- Short Creek -- which consists of Colorado City, Utah and Hildale, Arizona, is being prosecuted by DOJ for numerous civil rights violations. It is not the mainstream LDS. These are worth reading!

http://www.amazon.com/Under-Banner-Heaven-Story-Violent/dp/1400032806

http://www.amazon.com/Prophets-Prey-Seven-Year-Investigation-Fundamentalist/dp/1608193241

A documentary based on the Bowers book, featuring Krakauer, is airing on Showtime. http://prophetsprey.org

[Ducksworthy]

14. Vindaloo Finicum was buried where again?

Kanab/Fredonia is right on the edge of their blessed territory.

[msanthrope]

15. The DOJ is seriously fucking their shit up. nt

[Ned Flanders]

17. Investigating entire towns

Hell yeah, time to break up this criminal organization.

They're investigating the leaders of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, for essentially running outsiders out of town. Imagine the Mayor and Police department, all the top officials, conspiring together to bleed outsiders dry then chase them out of town. And then there's the stories about they way they treat teenage young men, essentially driving them out of town as well. Messed up shit that has no business in this country.

[link:http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2016-01-07/trial-is-expected-to-reveal-polygamous-towns-inner-workings|

[threethirteen]

19. Finally! n/t