A federal court trial for 11 members of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints accused of food stamp fraud has been reset for Oct. 3.
The trial had been scheduled to begin Tuesday, but government attorneys had argued before U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart that there was too much evidence still needed for either prosecutors or defendants to be prepared.
The food stamp fraud investigation began almost two years before the indictments were issued in February against Lyle Jeffs — who at the time of his arrest ran the day-to-day operations of the FLDS for his imprisoned brother, FLDS President Warren Jeffs — and 10 others.
The 11 defendants were each indicted with one count of conspiracy to commit fraud through the food stamp program and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The government alleges FLDS members were instructed to turn their food stamp debit cards into the church. Many of the cards were used at a local dairy and converted to cash, prosecutors allege in court documents.
The evidence includes video from surveillance cameras placed on poles in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz., recorded from February 2015 until February of this year, according to court documents.
| Tribune file photo Seth Steed Jeffs
Courtesy | Sam Brower Lyle Jeffs poses for a photo with seven of his nine wives at the FLDS ranch in Eldorado, Texas, circa 2005. From left: Luella Roundy, Lenora, Mable Jessop, Dianabel Barlow, Charlene Jeffs, Pauline Barlow and Margaret Stewart.
Ruth Peine Barlow.
Courtesy | Davis County Jail John Wayman
Law enforcement officers walk through Hildale, Utah on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. Several top leaders from Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect were arrested Tuesday on federal accusations of food stamp fraud and money laundering marking one of the biggest crackdowns on the group in years. Lyle Jeffs, one of the 11 charged in the scheme, runs the day-to-day operations in the polygamous community. (Chris Caldwell/The Spectrum via AP)
Courtesy | Washington County Sheriff's Office Kristal Meldrum Dutson
Law enforcement officers investigate in Hildale, Utah, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. Several top leaders from Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect were arrested Tuesday on federal accusations of food stamp fraud and money laundering marking one of the biggest crackdowns on the group in years. (Chris Caldwell /The Spectrum & Daily News via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
Law enforcement officers investigate in Hildale, Utah, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. Several top leaders from Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect were arrested Tuesday on federal accusations of food stamp fraud and money laundering marking one of the biggest crackdowns on the group in years. (Chris Caldwell /The Spectrum & Daily News via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
Law enforcement officers investigate in Hildale, Utah, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. Several top leaders from Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect were arrested Tuesday on federal accusations of food stamp fraud and money laundering marking one of the biggest crackdowns on the group in years. (Chris Caldwell /The Spectrum & Daily News via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
Courtesy | Washington County Sheriff's Office Winford Johnson Barlow
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Lyle Jeffs' public defender Kathryn Nester walks from the Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City Wednesday February 24, 2016.
Courtesy | Washington County Jail Nephi Steed Allred
Rulon Barlow. Courtesy photo