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Feds want to seize $191k in FLDS food stamp fraud case

Posted at 5:29 AM, Mar 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-09 07:55:54-05

SALT LAKE CITY — In a new federal court filing, federal prosecutors are seeking to forfeit more than $191,000 in money they allege is part of a massive food stamp fraud case involving the Fundamentalist LDS Church.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Utah filed the document Tuesday, giving notice that federal marshals had seized the money in five different accounts. The government alleges money taken from Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits was put there.

From the court filing:

fldsfoodstamp

Federal prosecutors allege the SNAP money was diverted to these accounts at various times from 2011 to 2015.

Eleven people were indicted by a federal grand jury on food stamp fraud and money laundering, accused of bilking taxpayers out of more than $12 million. Among them: Lyle Jeffs and Seth Jeffs, bishops in the FLDS Church and brothers to imprisoned polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.