23 June, 2017
Lyle Jeffs, the fugitive leader of a Mormon sect with a compound near Rapid City, was captured Wednesday while apparently living out of his pickup truck at a marina near Yankton.
It isn't known why Jeffs was in southeast South Dakota.
Jeffs complied with officers when he was arrested on Wednesday at a lakeside marina near the small town of Yankton in the south-eastern corner of South Dakota, Barnhart said. He's the polygamy reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune and has been following this.
According to testimony of former FDLS members, people whom Warren Jeffs designated as "bishops", including his brother Lyle, were at the top of the compound's pecking order while Warren Jeffs served time.
He pleaded not guilty to a two-count indictment and was released from prison last June ahead of his trial which was scheduled for October.
Prosecutors allege that 11 FLDS leaders, including Lyle Jeffs, conspired to defraud the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, and conspired to commit money laundering.
More information will be released in a news conference today on Jeffs' arrest.
Jeffs fled from his Salt Lake City home - where he was under house arrest - on June 19 of past year while awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud case.
The twin cities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona - collectively known as Short Creek - straddle the Utah-Arizona border and are home base to thousands of FLDS members who consider Warren Jeffs to be the church's prophet and mouthpiece of God on Earth.
Not long after Jeffs disappeared, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warrant for his arrest, as well as a $50,000 reward. Rothschadl says he doesn't know why Jeffs was in southeast South Dakota.
His brother, Warren, 60, was displayed on a similar poster and captured nearly a decade earlier.
Utah US Attorney John Huber says he expects Jeffs to return soon to face charges....
Haug says Jeffs provided his last name as his first name, going by Jeffs Lyle Steed. The arrest illustrates that law enforcement eventually catch fugitives, he said.
"It's a serious offense to flee justice, and we do not take it lightly".
Prosecutors also contend that sect-owned stores cashed food stamps and card holders received nothing in exchange. He said Jeffs is being held for the U.S. Marshal Service.
Last June, the brother of polygamist Mormon sect leader Warren Jeffs straight-up disappeared.
Nine of them accepted plea deals and on had his charges dismissed.
