Federal indictment alleges FLDS Church members used food stamps for illegal benefits and financial gain

Eleven members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church) were arrested on charges of food stamp fraud and money laundering. Federal investigators allege that church leaders orchestrated a scheme over several years, using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the group’s financial gain. The indictment claims that SNAP proceeds were diverted from authorized beneficiaries to FLDS leaders for use by ineligible individuals or for unapproved purposes.

A significant portion of FLDS members in the Hildale, Utah – Colorado City, Arizona community, known as Short Creek, received SNAP benefits, amounting to millions of dollars annually. The scheme involved members using their food stamps to provide resources to the church, allowing others to use their cards, and swiping them at church-affiliated stores without making purchases. These actions reportedly funded purchases such as paper products, a John Deere tractor, and a Ford pickup truck.

The Justice Department stated that the indictment is not about religion but about fraud. US Attorney John W. Huber emphasized that the government will not tolerate crimes committed in the name of religion. Among those arrested were Lyle and Seth Jeffs, brothers of Warren Jeffs, who was previously convicted of child sexual assault. Arrests were also made in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Custer County, South Dakota.

The FLDS Church, a large restorationist Mormon denomination, has faced numerous legal challenges in recent years. The arrests mark one of the largest crackdowns on the group in years. The scheme highlights the intersection of religious practices and legal accountability, raising concerns about the misuse of public resources for private benefit.

The case underscores the importance of protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that public assistance programs are used ethically. As the Bible reminds us, caring for the marginalized is a moral imperative. Micah 6:8 calls for justice, mercy, and humble service, principles that should guide both individuals and institutions in their dealings with public resources.

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