This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A 10-day trial has been set for September for Lyle Jeffs, a former bishop of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who was captured last month after absconding from pre-trial release in a federal food stamp fraud case.
Jeffs, 57, was indicted in February 2016, along with 10 other FLDS members with one count each of conspiracy to defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and conspiracy to launder money.
After his arrest on June 14 in South Dakota, Jeffs was indicted with an additional count: failure to appear in court.
Jeffs' trial is set to begin on Sept. 18 before U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart.
Prosecutors in February 2016 indicted 11 people with allegedly defrauding the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Church leaders in Hildale and Colorado City ordered members to give their SNAP benefits — in food and cash transfers — to the church, which collects and redistributes commodities to the community, according to prosecutors.
On June 18, 2016, while under house arrest in Salt Lake City pending trial, Jeffs slipped his ankle monitor and fled.
Meanwhile, the other defendants have all pleaded guilty. Jeffs' is the only case remaining.