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Polygamous Leader to Remain Jailed in Food Stamp Fraud Case (repost)
Originally posted in wrong forum.Source: Associated Press
Polygamous Leader to Remain Jailed in Food Stamp Fraud Case
By BRADY MCCOMBS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY — Mar 7, 2016, 5:09 PM ET
A polygamist sect leader accused of orchestrating a yearslong, multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud will remain behind bars as he awaits trial, a judge ruled Monday, rejecting testimony from family and friends who said he would not flee because he cares about the people he leads.
Lyle Jeffs is accused of defrauding the federal government out of taxpayer funds and depriving needy people of food, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead said. Those allegations cast doubt on the testimony from Jeffs' sister, Mary Musser, who called him a nurturing, involved father who is admired as a spiritual leader in the twin polygamous towns on the Utah-Arizona border, the judge said.
Jeffs runs the day-to-day operations of the group, whose leaders have been indicted on allegations of diverting at least $12 million worth of federal benefits. They instructed followers to buy items and give them to a church warehouse or use food stamps in sect-owned stores without getting anything in return, prosecutors say.
Before the ruling, Musser and Edwin Barlow, a member of the town council in Hildale, Utah, chuckled and scoffed at prosecutors' suggestions that Jeffs would use aliases, disguises, secret rooms, bunkers and weapons to elude authorities.
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By BRADY MCCOMBS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY — Mar 7, 2016, 5:09 PM ET
A polygamist sect leader accused of orchestrating a yearslong, multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud will remain behind bars as he awaits trial, a judge ruled Monday, rejecting testimony from family and friends who said he would not flee because he cares about the people he leads.
Lyle Jeffs is accused of defrauding the federal government out of taxpayer funds and depriving needy people of food, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead said. Those allegations cast doubt on the testimony from Jeffs' sister, Mary Musser, who called him a nurturing, involved father who is admired as a spiritual leader in the twin polygamous towns on the Utah-Arizona border, the judge said.
Jeffs runs the day-to-day operations of the group, whose leaders have been indicted on allegations of diverting at least $12 million worth of federal benefits. They instructed followers to buy items and give them to a church warehouse or use food stamps in sect-owned stores without getting anything in return, prosecutors say.
Before the ruling, Musser and Edwin Barlow, a member of the town council in Hildale, Utah, chuckled and scoffed at prosecutors' suggestions that Jeffs would use aliases, disguises, secret rooms, bunkers and weapons to elude authorities.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/witnesses-polygamist-leader-flee-fraud-case-37466391
Also: Jury: Polygamous towns discriminated against nonbelievers in LBN