Fugitive Polygamist Sect Leader Arrested in Las Vegas
1. Fugitive Polygamist Sect Leader Arrested in Las Vegas
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Items inside the car included $54,000 (euro42,160) in cash, gift cards totaling $10,000 (euro7,800),
the particular mobile phones along with wigs, 4 laptop computers, a GPS device, any police scanner,
along with numerous unopened envelopes that were thought to include more cash, Lewis said.
The FLDS Church split from your mainstream Mormon Church when the Mormons disavowed
polygamy a lot more than 100 a prolonged time ago. Warren Jeffs took more than the particular
renegade sect following your death involving his 98-year-old father, Rulon Jeffs, who ended up being
simply believed to have got had 65 kids by simply numerous women. Warren Jeffs took nearly most
his father's widows as his own wives.
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard told KTAR-AM involving Phoenix that Jeffs' arrest marks
"the beginning involving the finish regarding ... your tyrannical rule of your tiny crowd more than
the practically 10,000 followers with the FLDS sect." He predicted it's heading to lead a lot more
individuals to arrive forward with allegations involving sexual abuse.
Jeffs is wanted throughout Utah and Arizona in charges of arranging 2 marriages between underage
girls and older men. The Actual fees include a couple of counts regarding rape as an accomplice
inside Utah, together with each and every count punishable simply by approximately lifestyle in
prison.
"If this will carry an end to that, which will be a great thing," mentioned Ward Jeffs, a mature half-
brother regarding Warren. "We're excited for the individuals down there, yet we're extremely
concerned with regards to who may well step-up as well as go forward as well as take leadership
role."
Jeffs offers led your Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ associated with Latter-day Saints since
2002 as well as has been said to get at least 40 wives and also almost 60 children. Church dissidents
say that underage marriages -- some involving girls as youthful as 13 -- escalated in to be able to the
hundreds below his leadership, as well as that he broke apart people through casting out married
men as well as reassigning their particular females and youngsters to others.
"That would commonly say towards the average officer that will there is planning to be something
wrong, consequently I am going to continue to probe just a little bit," Lewis said.
Jeffs has been being held Tuesday in Clark County jail, awaiting a court hearing on the federal
charge of unlawful flight for you to steer clear of prosecution.
John E. Lewis, special agent inside charge in the FBI Phoenix division, mentioned the actual trooper
became suspicious when Jeffs identified himself as John Findley using a make contact with lens
receipt via Florida as identification.
It remained unclear Tuesday what would occur for the leadership with the church whilst Jeffs ended
up being powering bars.
2. Federal and state law enforcement agencies will decide if Jeffs needs for you to be sent 1st for you to
Utah or even Arizona, said Steve Sorenson, the federal prosecutor inside Salt Lake City. Utah's fees
will be more serious.
Jeffs confirmed his identity to a FBI agent who had been known as to the scene. He wouldn't
normally tell investigators where he have been hiding out, nevertheless he did say "that he was
getting subject to what he termed religious prosecutions," Lewis said.
Jeffs has been known as an unsafe extremist simply by individuals familiar with his church. Church
dissidents said that while the sect provides lengthy practiced the custom of arranged marriages,
youthful girls were rarely married off until Warren Jeffs found power.
Warren Steed Jeffs, 50, ended up being arrested without having incident just outside Vegas late
Monday right after a lot a lot more than per year around the run, your FBI said. Zero weapons had
been found, nevertheless the 2007 red Cadillac Escalade he was riding in had been filled up with
objects which includes three wigs, 15 cellular phones as well as tens associated with thousands of
dollars inside cash and also gift cards, authorities said.
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The a pair of people going with him, wife Naomi Jeffs plus a brother, Isaac Steed Jeffs, both 32, were
introduced along with will not become charged, FBI agent Steven Martinez said.
LAS VEGAS - Â The charismatic leader of a
polygamous sect ended up being captured
throughout a visitors stop three months
right after getting put on the FBI's Nearly
All Wanted list along with faces charges he
arranged marriages among underage girls
along with older men.
He ended up on the FBI's Ten Many Wanted
list since May, having a $100,000
(euro78,000) incentive offered for details
ultimately causing his capture.
3. People expelled from your neighborhood said small
men had been sent away for you to stay away from
competition for brides. Older men were cast out with
regard to alleged disobedience, as well as their wives
and kids had been reassigned simply by Jeffs to new
husbands and fathers, the actual former members
said.
Jeffs' vehicle was stopped upon Interstate 15 for
having a temporary Colorado license tag which was
not really simply readable, FBI and Nevada Highway
Patrol officials said.
Most in the church's members reside in Hildale,
Utah, as well as adjoining Colorado City, Arizona, but
authorities have got said they believe Jeffs had "safe
houses" within four some other U.S. states -- such as
Nevada -- and also Canada.