Two polygamous sect members accused in a food-stamp fraud case will stay in jail after violating their supervised release at the direction of imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs.
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Both men had been released pending their trial provided they follow a set of directives from the court.
Prosecutors argue their actions show that Wayman and Seth Jeffs must remain jailed to ensure they show up at trial.
Seth Jeffs and John Wayman violated the terms of a pretrial release agreement prohibiting them from contact with co-defendants and potential witnesses in the case, U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart found. Federal prosecutors say the group’s scheme misused more than $12 million in food stamps by getting those who qualified for them to turn them over for use church use. “As counsel for Defendant stated at the hearing, this is a community that follows the instructions of their prophet”, he wrote in an order detaining Seth Jeffs, a brother of Warren Jeffs.
Jeffs and Wayman asked for additional time, noting that their detention status would have bearing upon their decision.
Seth Jeffs and Wayman are among 11 people charged in the Federal Bureau of Investigation case. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges.
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One defendant, Lyle Jeffs, apparently used olive oil to slip off his Global Positioning System ankle monitor and flee a Salt Lake County home in June.
