Texas Attorney General Seeks to Seize FLDS West Texas Ranch

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office has filed a warrant to seize the Yearning for Zion Ranch in West Texas, a property occupied by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and its polygamist leader, Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, who is currently imprisoned for the sexual assaults of two underage girls he considered his wives, was a central figure in the sect’s activities at the ranch. The 1,600-acre property, located near Eldorado, was the site of a 2008 raid in which state officials removed 400 children from the community due to concerns for their safety.

The warrant, filed in Schleicher County, seeks to confiscate the ranch, which prosecutors allege was acquired with the intent to commit felony offenses. The affidavit supporting the seizure claims that FLDS leaders used proceeds from illegal activities, including money laundering, to finance the property. The ranch was purchased for approximately $1.1 million in 2003, though its current appraised value exceeds $33 million.

Prosecutors argue that the land should be seized under Texas law, as it was used in the commission of crimes such as sexual assault, bigamy, and illegal financial transfers. The state has spent over $4.5 million since 2008 on convictions related to child sex and bigamy charges against Jeffs and 10 followers. The attorney general’s office described the action as part of its final chapter in addressing “widespread criminal misconduct” at the ranch.

FLDS lawyer Rod Parker of Utah has criticized the move, suggesting that the action could lead to the eviction of many members living at the ranch. He stated that the measure might “punish the victims,” as the ranch’s occupants are not the ones who committed the alleged crimes. Parker did not immediately comment on the allegations of illegal activity, noting he had not reviewed the entire affidavit.

Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran confirmed that notice of the action was provided, but no further details were released. The case highlights the ongoing legal and ethical complexities surrounding the FLDS community, its leadership, and the broader implications of property seizures in cases involving criminal misconduct.

Source: Read the original report