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It's in this episode of American Greed.
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In a small secluded community where
polygamy is practiced as a spiritual
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two brothers, Warren and Lyle Jeffs,
claim they are bringing the word of God
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devoted followers.
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These men were standing in a position as
God's over us.
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But God, it appears, is just a cover.
And they were using the religion, they
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were wrapping themselves in the religion
to commit crimes.
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For Warren, the crimes are against
children.
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This is about little girls being taken
away from their parents, tied up, and
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raped. And for Lyle, the crime is fraud.
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Millions of dollars in taxpayers' money
is stolen.
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They bought a John Deere tractor and a
Ford F -350 pickup truck.
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And the FBI catches the scheme on tape.
We're zooming in to capture their
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license plate.
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And the devoted followers, they say they
are told to do the fraudster's dirty
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work or else.
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I knew it was illegal, but the kind of
pressure that we were under, if you
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didn't obey all the rules, you could
lose your family.
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Hidden below the red vermilion cliffs in
southern Utah is a remote site, perfect
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for people who want nothing more than to
be left alone.
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And so in the 1930s, fundamentalist
Mormons come here and create a refuge
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the Fundamentalist Church of Latter -day
Saints, FLDS.
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They want to be isolated in order to
practice a way of life they believe is
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sacred.
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The practice of having multiple wives.
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Polygamy.
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They felt like they had to do it
secretly and underground because it was
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illegal, forbidden by the mainstream,
looked down upon by the mainstream.
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But over time, the need for secrecy
lessens as church members build a
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community in two towns bordering two
states, Colorado City, Arizona and
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Hilldale, Utah.
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They call their home Short Creek.
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It's where Dee Barlow grows up.
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Short Creek was established on the basis
of being able to find a place where you
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could raise your family in a society
that was away from the social evil and
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bring your kids up in what is termed
light and truth.
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So we'll be crossing the state line in
just a minute.
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Willie Jessup also grows up in Short
Creek.
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at a time when polygamy was practiced
openly.
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Even the marriages and everything were
quite transparent.
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So if there was a marriage, everyone in
the community would show up and support
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it. Over time, FLDS members build
successful businesses, primarily doing
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construction outside of Short Creek.
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And as those businesses make donations,
the wealth of the church grows.
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We were very highly motivated to be able
to financially bankroll the church in
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every need that it could, believing it
was taking care of the most needy in
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society. And we were, you know, making a
difference for goodness for everyone.
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But in 2002, a change comes to Short
Creek.
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At the time, the leader and prophet of
the FLDS church is 92 -year -old Rulan
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Jeffs.
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Wallace Jeffs is his son.
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When I grew up with my father, he only
had eight wives, if you want to call it
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only.
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But when he died, he had 87 wives.
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Brunan lives in Salt Lake City, where he
claims he has a revelation from God
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that Salt Lake will soon be destroyed.
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And he commands all church members there
to move to Short Creek, where they will
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be safe.
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They had this thing called the lifting
up.
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where everybody in Short Creek was going
to be lifted up from the earth, piece
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of land.
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I mean, literally, a piece of land was
going to be lifted up while the
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destructions wiped the wicked of the
earth off.
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So we were down there for this lifting
up.
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But in Short Creek, Rulon dies.
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Immediately, his son Warren declares
that he is the new prophet, a position
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extraordinary power.
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As the prophet, he is the literal
mouthpiece of God. So when he speaks
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and he gives his revelations to the
community, it is in the first
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person of the deity of God.
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And Warren's consistent message from
God, even embedded in a chimney, is pray
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and obey.
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And as heard in this recording, the
message comes with a threat.
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But know this, great warning.
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You are shut out of heaven forever
unless you just obey
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the prophet.
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And soon, according to former members,
Warren issues a litany of commandments.
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He shut down all the dances and says,
you know, we can't do this. It's
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We can't be exposing our children to TV.
You've got to get rid of rock and roll
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music. We can't have socials and
anything that's going to take your focus
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God. The word fun was banned.
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The word enjoyment was on a reduced
basis.
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Anything that was of a celebration
style, holiday was just done away with,
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including birthdays.
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Some say it's his way of legitimizing
his role.
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That was the way he was trying to be
recognized as the prophet by being the
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that was the most holy, the most
obedient, the most determined to bring
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everybody into a religious perspective.
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And Warren knows he's playing to a well
-trained audience.
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Brenda Nicholson grows up in the church
and is taught that perfect obedience is
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required for eternal salvation.
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He basically was handed on a silver
platter a group of people who had been
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very carefully through generations
groomed to accept
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this place of being perfectly obedient.
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But apparently obedience to the rules
does not apply to Warren. For example,
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recorded statements like this.
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He controls his followers by ordering
that all construction on Short Creek
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be stopped.
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And the projects are frozen.
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But he has his own enormous compound
built.
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The size of an entire block for himself
and his growing collection of wives.
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Who are pictured in widely circulated
photographs like this one.
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showcasing adoration for Warren.
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And no one questions the prophet.
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He gets whatever he wants.
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Warren had everything at his fingertips.
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If he wanted a new car, he could get it.
If he wanted a new personal bodyguard,
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he had it there.
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He was a man of means.
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And he is a man with secrets to protect.
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And so he needs absolute control of
every man, woman, and child in Short
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And that is what he gets on a Saturday
morning in January 2004 in the church
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meeting house.
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That morning, Warren declares that 21
men, all long -standing leaders in the
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church, are master deceivers and
excommunicates them all.
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They must leave Short Creek immediately.
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It was just devastating.
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It's like taking everything up by the
roots, ripping it up by the roots.
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I call it one of the dark days of Short
Creek because it took the pillars of our
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community and wiped them out.
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In months to come, the expulsion of men
from the church becomes almost routine.
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Even some of Warren's brothers are
banished.
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When they called me, I figured this was
it, but I had no idea why.
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And they don't tell you why.
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They just say, Warren, the prophet says
you are not worthy.
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The husbands who are kicked out are told
they are no longer fit to be fathers to
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their children.
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That was the hardest thing I ever did in
my life.
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Yeah, you have to go back. You have to
tell your family that you're not worthy.
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You're not worthy of them.
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When you lose everything.
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Literally, all you leave with is a shirt
on your back.
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There's a physical pain that comes with
that that is excruciating.
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You can't even explain it, but it's an
anguish that
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creates a physical pain that's
unexplainable.
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And now, under the constant threat of
expulsion, No one would dare cross
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Jeffs. In almost no time, he has made an
extremely effective grab for power. And
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with power comes money. The opportunity
to do whatever he wants.
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Up next on American Greed, the prophet's
secrets exposed.
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Mr. Jeffs, did you rape those two girls?
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In Short Creek, there is a story that
every child learns early.
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The story of the raid on July 26, 1953.
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On that day, the Arizona State Police
come into town and arrest most of the
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adults. They take more than 200 children
into custody.
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The reason?
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Reports of underage marriage.
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In the end, little comes of the raid.
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But in Short Creek, there is a
heightened fear of the outside world.
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And 50 years later, Short Creek's
mistrust of outsiders plays beautifully
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Warren Jeff's hands.
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You know, they're always telling you
any, you know, the Gentiles would love
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nothing more than to come in here and
destroy us.
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Warren says that threats from the
outside world are the reason members
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their children out of public schools.
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The reason members are not allowed to
associate with non -members called
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Gentiles. It's why streets in Short
Creek are lined with walls.
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But are the walls there to protect
members or to hide the secrets of the
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leaders? This created a perfect
environment for people to look at
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that it was an outside threat without
recognizing that what he was doing is he
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was using this secrecy.
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for some very sinister and evil
purposes.
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And those sinister and evil purposes
begin to come to light when a young
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member, Elissa Wall, steps forward.
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But I have followed my heart, and I've
spoken the truth.
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Claiming that at age 14, she is forced
into marrying her cousin by Warren
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This was the first time that we ever had
anybody who would...
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inside the community come out and be
willing to testify as to what had
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inside. Warren is charged with rape as
an accomplice. His eventual conviction
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overturned for errors in jury
instruction.
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But as law enforcement closes in, Warren
assures his followers that he is above
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the law.
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He says no person, no court, no
government can question what God has him
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And then he runs away.
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He leaves his younger brother Lyle in
charge of Short Creek.
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Lyle was very cocky, very proud, self
-centered, just
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not a real kind person.
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And Lyle makes it clear he too is above
the law as he helps Warren evade
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capture.
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They did the best they could to obstruct
justice in every way possible.
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But in August of 2006, Warren is
arrested near Las Vegas in a routine
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stop. He has $50 ,000 in cash and
assorted disguises.
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But the discovery that causes his
downfall comes later, when law
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finds photographs like these.
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They provide dramatic evidence in court
of Warren Jeffs' sexual experiences with
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child brides only 12 and 14 years old.
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And with that, the most holy prophet
Warren Jeffs is charged with sexually
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assaulting children.
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The story is national news.
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Mr. Jeffs, did you rape those two girls?
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Mr. Jeffs? I was walking through a truck
stop.
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And I saw a news article that showed
Warren kissing this 12
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-year -old girl.
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I knew this girl very well. I knew how
old she was.
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I knew who she was.
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And I just remember seeing that picture
and
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thinking, I could be one of my
daughters.
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But in Short Creek, former members say
people aren't allowed to get their news
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from only one source,
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Lyle Jeffs.
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The people were told, don't go to the
television, don't go to the newspapers,
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don't find any other news source, but
let Lyle become your source of
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information. Remember the 1953 raid,
they are told.
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This is what the government does.
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Warren is a martyr.
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I thought he was the greatest man on
earth and he had been wrongfully
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He was in prison because of the lies of
apostates.
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00:15:12,180 --> 00:15:17,279
Willie Jessup, as a faithful FLDS
member, is so eager to prove Warren's
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innocence, he interviews the girls,
learning the horrifying truth.
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The government isn't lying.
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Warren is.
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The greatest betrayal of my life. And I
never saw it coming. I've never cried
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harder in my life, and I've never been
sicker in my life.
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And Warren is not alone.
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Other church leaders are convicted on
charges related to underage marriages.
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But now, for Jessup, the claim of
government persecution of Warren no
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rings true.
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This isn't about consensual marriages.
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This isn't about plural marriage. This
is about little girls being taken away
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from their parents, tied up, and raped.
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00:15:58,070 --> 00:16:03,590
And there is no way to put any frosting
on it. This is horrific, graphic,
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horrible acts.
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against innocent people.
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Up next on American Greed, in Short
Creek, greed is in charge.
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It has nothing to do with God. It has
nothing to do with religion, pride,
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control, and money.
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In 2011, just outside Palestine, Texas,
Warren Jeffs is in a state prison
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serving a sentence of life plus 20 years
after being convicted of sexually
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assaulting children.
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It's easy to believe that the bad guy
has been put away and all will be well.
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If he was truly the only problem when he
was imprisoned, everything would have
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changed.
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And it didn't.
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00:17:06,510 --> 00:17:11,210
Warren continues to issue commandments
from his prison cell that are obeyed.
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00:17:11,569 --> 00:17:14,490
All children's toys must be destroyed.
235
00:17:14,930 --> 00:17:16,690
Internet access is forbidden.
236
00:17:17,230 --> 00:17:22,568
He seems to be as powerful as ever. But
in reality, the person keeping Warren in
237
00:17:22,569 --> 00:17:24,910
power is his brother, Lyle.
238
00:17:25,710 --> 00:17:28,630
Lyle tells people that he speaks for
Warren.
239
00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,760
I am the only person now that can save
you. Warren's in jail.
240
00:17:33,020 --> 00:17:35,860
I'm the closest thing to Warren you
people will ever see.
241
00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,520
And he started marketing himself as a
Warren.
242
00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,300
And that works out very well for Lyle.
243
00:17:41,700 --> 00:17:47,339
He is living in a huge house inside the
walled Jeff's family compound with his
244
00:17:47,340 --> 00:17:48,390
multiple wives.
245
00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:51,580
He owns a mobile home worth more than
$100 ,000.
246
00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:55,840
And that is just one option for his
transportation.
247
00:17:56,910 --> 00:18:01,849
He has every vehicle that he could ever
want right at his fingertips, including
248
00:18:01,850 --> 00:18:08,589
very high -end cars, Infinities, Audis,
vehicles that he traveled
249
00:18:08,590 --> 00:18:10,510
around in constantly in the community.
250
00:18:10,690 --> 00:18:16,750
For Lyle, it appears God is out and
greed is in. Pride and greed.
251
00:18:17,970 --> 00:18:22,069
Absolutely. That's all it is. It has
nothing to do with God. It has nothing
252
00:18:22,070 --> 00:18:25,370
do with religion, pride, control, and
money.
253
00:18:26,179 --> 00:18:28,080
Agents at the FBI agree.
254
00:18:29,100 --> 00:18:32,820
Lyle and a few others, they say, are not
running a church.
255
00:18:33,260 --> 00:18:35,380
They are running a criminal enterprise.
256
00:18:36,100 --> 00:18:41,619
They were basically like wolves in
sheep's clothing. They were using their
257
00:18:41,620 --> 00:18:45,780
religion. They were wrapping themselves
in their religion to commit crimes.
258
00:18:46,780 --> 00:18:51,780
Obstructing justice by using local
police to spy on residents.
259
00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,840
Children are ordered out of school to
work long hours on church projects.
260
00:18:57,660 --> 00:19:01,820
And the FBI receives widespread
allegations of fraud.
261
00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:09,139
And even then I remember thinking, if
we're God's people, why do we have
262
00:19:09,140 --> 00:19:12,980
to lie and commit fraud? Why doesn't he
provide for us?
263
00:19:13,180 --> 00:19:17,900
And now cash coming into the church goes
to projects that defy reason.
264
00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:24,139
Life of Warren Jeffs says he will be
released from jail if the members build
265
00:19:24,140 --> 00:19:29,479
a palatial residence and Lyle makes sure
the multi -million dollar walled palace
266
00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:30,530
is built.
267
00:19:31,180 --> 00:19:36,919
But much of the money, tens of millions
of dollars, goes to build new secret
268
00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:43,080
communities in Colorado and South
Dakota, places they call lands of
269
00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:47,880
Places reserved for people loyal to Lyle
and Warren.
270
00:19:49,290 --> 00:19:55,009
So now it went from a religion about
taking care of the poor and the needy
271
00:19:55,010 --> 00:20:00,309
helping those that needed it. 100 % of
everything was how can you make the
272
00:20:00,310 --> 00:20:04,869
more powerful, more strong, using the
name of religion, but it had nothing to
273
00:20:04,870 --> 00:20:06,130
with the poor and the sick.
274
00:20:06,290 --> 00:20:10,849
And where do the multiple millions of
dollars for Warren and Lyle's projects
275
00:20:10,850 --> 00:20:11,900
come from?
276
00:20:12,310 --> 00:20:13,360
Short Creek.
277
00:20:13,970 --> 00:20:16,810
Business owners are tapped to the point
of bankruptcy.
278
00:20:17,770 --> 00:20:22,569
The businesses just were not able to
keep up with the demands, and some of
279
00:20:22,570 --> 00:20:26,969
had to fold. But eventually, the squeeze
always ends up on the members, who are
280
00:20:26,970 --> 00:20:30,110
told to give till it hurts and then give
some more.
281
00:20:30,730 --> 00:20:35,289
We were barely surviving, but, you know,
they put it across as what matters
282
00:20:35,290 --> 00:20:38,610
more? You know, the destructions could
come any day.
283
00:20:38,611 --> 00:20:42,409
Don't you think you're going to wish you
had somewhere to be? You need to show
284
00:20:42,410 --> 00:20:43,169
your support.
285
00:20:43,170 --> 00:20:43,989
So we did.
286
00:20:43,990 --> 00:20:48,569
And there is also the constant threat
that if you don't pay up, you will get
287
00:20:48,570 --> 00:20:49,620
kicked out.
288
00:20:49,621 --> 00:20:53,649
Basically, it is if you didn't come
through and tumble in and make your
289
00:20:53,650 --> 00:20:57,350
contributions, then you're putting your
family and you at risk.
290
00:20:58,350 --> 00:21:02,140
Certainly as a father, you're putting
yourself at risk to lose your family.
291
00:21:02,150 --> 00:21:06,510
But no matter how much people give,
there is never enough money.
292
00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:12,699
And so in 2011, a plan is implemented to
take literally everything from the
293
00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:13,780
people of Short Creek.
294
00:21:14,100 --> 00:21:18,779
Church leaders announced that Warren is
requiring the implementation of his
295
00:21:18,780 --> 00:21:25,159
interpretation of a 19th century Mormon
practice of sharing goods. It's called
296
00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:26,880
the United Order.
297
00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:32,019
What that meant is everyone had to
consecrate everything that they had been
298
00:21:32,020 --> 00:21:36,659
given here, all their earthly
possessions, all their income,
299
00:21:36,660 --> 00:21:37,860
be donated to the church.
300
00:21:38,060 --> 00:21:43,099
So you virtually own nothing. Everything
that you have, that you are in control
301
00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:44,940
of, you're actually a steward for.
302
00:21:45,380 --> 00:21:47,000
The church controls everything.
303
00:21:47,460 --> 00:21:52,480
But the idea sold to the community is
that this is a way to share resources.
304
00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,620
And they brought it up as this is this
amazing thing.
305
00:21:57,290 --> 00:22:02,349
This was leveling the playing field.
Everyone was going to be more equal. And
306
00:22:02,350 --> 00:22:07,349
actually felt really bad for the people
who had gotten accustomed to living like
307
00:22:07,350 --> 00:22:12,209
kings because it was going to be a
sacrifice for them. For me, it was going
308
00:22:12,210 --> 00:22:15,350
be, you know, I was looking forward to
actually having more.
309
00:22:15,670 --> 00:22:18,750
But as with everything with the Jeffs,
there is a catch.
310
00:22:19,490 --> 00:22:22,850
To participate in the United Order, you
have to qualify.
311
00:22:23,900 --> 00:22:27,840
Up next on American Greed, how far Lyle
will go.
312
00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:32,600
So we would go home and having not much
to feed our children.
313
00:22:33,500 --> 00:22:35,160
Literally, we were starving.
314
00:22:51,850 --> 00:22:58,330
In December 2011, almost 10 years after
Warren Jeffs became the FLDS prophet,
315
00:22:59,070 --> 00:23:03,850
Short Creek is under the full control of
his brother, Lyle Jeffs.
316
00:23:04,750 --> 00:23:10,769
Under the rule of Lyle Jeffs, a security
conscious environment progressed to
317
00:23:10,770 --> 00:23:13,610
what I would consider a security state.
318
00:23:13,830 --> 00:23:16,120
Everywhere you went, you were being
watched.
319
00:23:17,170 --> 00:23:20,110
It's something on your mind 24 -7.
320
00:23:20,670 --> 00:23:22,050
Are my boys going to be okay?
321
00:23:22,270 --> 00:23:26,429
You know, if one day you see them with
their sleeves rolled up, you about have
322
00:23:26,430 --> 00:23:31,389
heart attack because are they going to
be seen as naughty boys and get kicked
323
00:23:31,390 --> 00:23:32,440
out or sent away?
324
00:23:32,910 --> 00:23:35,250
Lyle continues to banish fathers.
325
00:23:35,650 --> 00:23:40,289
And according to federal law
enforcement, on occasion, he even takes
326
00:23:40,290 --> 00:23:42,610
himself and their money.
327
00:23:43,590 --> 00:23:45,670
All he did was come in off the...
328
00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:50,859
as a pariah and as a leech off of people
that had been kicked out and millions
329
00:23:50,860 --> 00:23:55,719
of dollars of their assets were shifted
over to him. He's now sleeping with
330
00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,780
their wives and impregnating them,
living in their homes.
331
00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:05,059
And now Lyle and two cohorts will be the
ones to decide who is worthy of joining
332
00:24:05,060 --> 00:24:09,200
the new echelon in the church called the
United Order.
333
00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,720
We were told these men were standing in
a position as...
334
00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:18,359
You know, God's over us to a degree. You
know, God would whisper to them if you
335
00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:19,019
were worthy.
336
00:24:19,020 --> 00:24:24,800
And God's whisper for Brenda is that
three of her six children are worthy.
337
00:24:25,340 --> 00:24:27,760
Her husband and the three others are
not.
338
00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,760
This was it. This was everything riding
on this decision.
339
00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:37,280
And then she says her worthy daughter
shares what she has learned at a
340
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:41,820
She said Uncle Lyle said that God gave
this revelation.
341
00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:49,340
And so the worthies are no longer
allowed to live with the unworthies. She
342
00:24:49,420 --> 00:24:53,680
so they're going to take us away. We
can't live with you anymore.
343
00:24:54,700 --> 00:25:00,920
And I can't quite describe what that
felt like inside of me.
344
00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,480
But no one is taking Brenda Nicholson's
children.
345
00:25:05,420 --> 00:25:09,979
And so in the middle of the night, her
family packs up and leaves Short Creek
346
00:25:09,980 --> 00:25:11,030
for good.
347
00:25:12,110 --> 00:25:19,089
I knew there was a good chance I'd never
get to see or talk to my
348
00:25:19,090 --> 00:25:23,150
mother or my siblings again.
349
00:25:23,790 --> 00:25:28,729
At the same time, Dee Barlow is asked to
be on the committee that will decide
350
00:25:28,730 --> 00:25:32,310
which worthy families will get which
worthy children.
351
00:25:32,590 --> 00:25:34,990
And for Barlow, that is too much.
352
00:25:35,350 --> 00:25:38,670
He decides he also must leave Short
Creek.
353
00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:42,170
Because I felt like I had eternal
consequences.
354
00:25:42,900 --> 00:25:49,679
That to fuss around in the life of
children, and especially that very
355
00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:56,659
connection with parents, I have a
personal honor system. It was not
356
00:25:56,660 --> 00:25:59,760
going to be looked on with any degree of
mercy.
357
00:26:00,260 --> 00:26:03,680
Because everything that we have is about
family.
358
00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:05,280
It's about children.
359
00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:07,620
But apparently for Lyle...
360
00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:09,130
It's about money.
361
00:26:09,860 --> 00:26:15,699
And now he is insisting that everyone in
the new United Order take inventory of
362
00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:20,119
all their possessions and turn them over
to a church warehouse called the
363
00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:25,580
storehouse, where he says they will be
available to all. Some of those.
364
00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:31,759
Asset sheets were over 300 pages of
lined paper on both sides, naming out
365
00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:36,760
pin, every shoe, every spare shoelace,
their pairs of glasses, their contacts,
366
00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,480
and they were required to go and submit
that to Lyle Jeffs.
367
00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,820
At this point, many do not have much to
give.
368
00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:48,739
With so many fathers kicked out, Short
Creek is one of the poorest communities
369
00:26:48,740 --> 00:26:49,790
in Utah.
370
00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:55,139
The father was the cornerstone of the
providing for the families. And so now
371
00:26:55,140 --> 00:27:00,860
of a sudden you have an abundant women
and children without an income provider.
372
00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:06,299
And those women and children qualify for
government help, which comes in the
373
00:27:06,300 --> 00:27:12,659
form of supplemental nutrition
assistance called SNAP benefits, also
374
00:27:12,660 --> 00:27:13,710
food stamps.
375
00:27:13,950 --> 00:27:18,750
The Short Creek area during this time
frame consisted of about 6 ,000 people,
376
00:27:18,990 --> 00:27:25,909
and we determined that there were
approximately 2 ,700 snap card holders
377
00:27:25,910 --> 00:27:31,830
area. And that means there is big money
in food stamps, and Lyle wants it.
378
00:27:32,650 --> 00:27:35,350
He calls everyone together to explain
his scheme.
379
00:27:36,930 --> 00:27:42,070
Cheryl Barlow is Dee's wife, who stays
behind when Dee leaves Short Creek.
380
00:27:42,810 --> 00:27:49,029
We were told to attend storehouse
training meetings, and in those
381
00:27:49,030 --> 00:27:55,269
and those that he told, instructed,
would tell us how to use our food stamps
382
00:27:55,270 --> 00:28:01,949
cards. Members are told to spend their
monthly food stamp allocation at two
383
00:28:01,950 --> 00:28:07,550
convenience stores, not to buy food, but
to make a donation to the church.
384
00:28:07,850 --> 00:28:11,690
I knew it was illegal, but the kind of
pressure that we were under,
385
00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:16,720
It was, if you didn't obey all the
rules, you could lose your family.
386
00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:21,220
Shirley Draper runs a social service
agency in Short Creek.
387
00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:26,140
We're talking about families that did
not have money to pay for health care.
388
00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:30,939
They didn't have money to, you know,
even buy clothing or anything. And then
389
00:28:30,940 --> 00:28:34,340
they're told they also have to hand over
their snack cards.
390
00:28:34,740 --> 00:28:38,460
And so even their food is now in peril.
391
00:28:39,100 --> 00:28:42,820
And that means that for some, Lyle has
now gone too far.
392
00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,020
And they make a call to the FBI.
393
00:28:46,021 --> 00:28:49,819
For the first time in decades, we had
these witnesses that were coming forward
394
00:28:49,820 --> 00:28:54,239
and giving us firsthand knowledge of
things like public corruption and crimes
395
00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:56,650
against children and fraud that was
occurring.
396
00:28:56,940 --> 00:28:59,640
As the agents begin their
investigation...
397
00:28:59,960 --> 00:29:05,139
They see that two small FLDS -controlled
convenience stores are processing
398
00:29:05,140 --> 00:29:07,220
enormous food stamp transactions.
399
00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:13,219
It was an incredible fraud flag. If you
have a $4 ,500 transaction at the
400
00:29:13,220 --> 00:29:17,640
counter of a small convenience store,
that raises eyebrows.
401
00:29:17,860 --> 00:29:22,560
What are you buying for $4 ,500 at a
convenience store?
402
00:29:23,100 --> 00:29:28,420
And so the FBI installs surveillance
cameras outside and inside the stores.
403
00:29:28,700 --> 00:29:33,920
And over hundreds of hours of video,
they watch Lyle's suspected fraud
404
00:29:35,020 --> 00:29:40,219
Up next on American Greed, while members
are starving... Lyle Jeffs had a
405
00:29:40,220 --> 00:29:44,739
personal chef, and his personal chef
prepared him steak and lobster and
406
00:29:44,740 --> 00:29:51,079
scallops. Hear how Lyle Jeffs evades the
FBI on AmericanGreed .CNBC
407
00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:52,130
.com.
408
00:29:53,770 --> 00:29:55,850
Want inside information from the show?
409
00:29:56,370 --> 00:29:58,430
Join the Greed Social Network.
410
00:29:58,770 --> 00:30:01,870
Like us on American Greed's Facebook
page.
411
00:30:02,150 --> 00:30:03,200
We'll be right back.
412
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:24,439
By 2015, every day in Short Creek,
families on food stamps head to an FLDS
413
00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:28,800
-controlled store to donate their
government benefits to their church.
414
00:30:29,180 --> 00:30:33,240
And the FBI is watching every step they
take.
415
00:30:33,580 --> 00:30:37,800
These are very faithful people that are
walking in and consecrating their money,
416
00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:42,639
believing that all of that money is
going to the storehouse and that they're
417
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:44,930
benefiting themselves and their
neighbors.
418
00:30:45,310 --> 00:30:50,189
Once inside, the clerk hands the church
member a list of items that the
419
00:30:50,190 --> 00:30:51,290
storehouse needs.
420
00:30:51,910 --> 00:30:56,749
But that's, it's just smoke and mirrors.
It's just to give the people donating
421
00:30:56,750 --> 00:30:59,150
the feeling that they are contributing.
422
00:30:59,510 --> 00:31:05,889
And then the customer hands over her
food stamp card, known as an EBT card,
423
00:31:05,890 --> 00:31:07,370
like a credit or debit card.
424
00:31:07,730 --> 00:31:12,969
And in that fast transaction, she has
given money she needs to feed her family
425
00:31:12,970 --> 00:31:14,450
to Lyle Jeffs.
426
00:31:14,830 --> 00:31:21,189
In this case, the customer turns over $2
,600 and leaves the store without a
427
00:31:21,190 --> 00:31:22,490
single item of food.
428
00:31:23,050 --> 00:31:27,309
The amount of food that you could buy
even for a large family would sustain
429
00:31:27,310 --> 00:31:29,150
family throughout the month.
430
00:31:29,990 --> 00:31:34,169
After making their donation, church
members expect that they can go to the
431
00:31:34,170 --> 00:31:36,710
storehouse and pick up whatever they
need.
432
00:31:37,150 --> 00:31:38,510
But that is not true.
433
00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:49,259
thought we had contributed, there was
nothing there. So we would go home and
434
00:31:49,260 --> 00:31:51,640
having not much to feed our children.
435
00:31:52,540 --> 00:31:54,260
Literally, we were starving.
436
00:31:54,520 --> 00:32:00,439
And so if food stamp funds are not going
to fill the storehouse with food, where
437
00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:01,490
does that money go?
438
00:32:02,300 --> 00:32:07,299
Federal prosecutors say it goes straight
into the control of Lyle Jeffs and his
439
00:32:07,300 --> 00:32:08,350
friends.
440
00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:14,339
They used it to buy things other than
food. They bought a John Deere tractor,
441
00:32:14,340 --> 00:32:21,140
Ford F -350 pickup truck. They spent a
million dollars on farming supplies,
442
00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:25,740
principally grain for cattle, not food
for human beings to eat.
443
00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:30,460
Prosecutors estimate the fraud brings in
more than $11 million.
444
00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:36,119
And a significant amount of the money
goes to those privileged lands of refuge
445
00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:41,920
in Colorado and South Dakota, which at
all costs must be kept secret.
446
00:32:42,820 --> 00:32:46,820
The leaders of the church didn't want
scrutiny into those communities.
447
00:32:47,900 --> 00:32:52,759
There was an edict that those persons
couldn't participate in food stamps. And
448
00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:57,299
so food stamp money from Shore Creek had
to be diverted to those communities so
449
00:32:57,300 --> 00:32:58,580
they could subsist.
450
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,900
And that leaves the people in Short
Creek in desperate shape.
451
00:33:03,220 --> 00:33:09,420
It was very difficult as a mother to
watch my kids go without,
452
00:33:09,620 --> 00:33:15,880
to have a little child come and ask for
food, and I had nothing to give him.
453
00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:18,580
Eventually, Cheryl takes a risk.
454
00:33:18,860 --> 00:33:22,440
She secretly buys snacks and hides them.
455
00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:27,820
And there was one point that the
caretaker of the home took me aside.
456
00:33:28,300 --> 00:33:34,759
and told me that I could lose my
children. For me to use those EBT
457
00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:39,160
buy food for my children, I could lose
my children and be sent away.
458
00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:46,259
Families like the Barlows make do with
meager meals, but Lyle appears to be
459
00:33:46,260 --> 00:33:47,310
feeling no pain.
460
00:33:47,540 --> 00:33:51,320
He has access to whatever he wants in
the storehouse.
461
00:33:51,740 --> 00:33:55,660
He had keys to it, and there were
witness accounts where those...
462
00:33:56,400 --> 00:34:01,299
Family members of Lyle's household would
go after hours to the storehouse and
463
00:34:01,300 --> 00:34:05,059
pick off the shelves whatever they
needed, whatever they wanted, bring it
464
00:34:05,060 --> 00:34:08,670
Their shelves were always stocked. Their
refrigerator was always full.
465
00:34:08,940 --> 00:34:15,319
While the other members starved and did
not have the food they needed, the
466
00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:18,940
nutrition that they needed, they were
living off of rice and ketchup.
467
00:34:19,750 --> 00:34:24,669
Lyle Jeffs had a personal chef and his
personal chef prepared him steak and
468
00:34:24,670 --> 00:34:28,090
lobster and scallops. And he lived very,
very well.
469
00:34:28,489 --> 00:34:31,710
But Lyle's lobster eating days are
numbered.
470
00:34:32,170 --> 00:34:35,810
In February 2016, the FBI is ready.
471
00:34:37,010 --> 00:34:41,889
Agents surround the FLDS stores and take
the final evidence for the case.
472
00:34:42,810 --> 00:34:46,190
Church members who donated their
benefits are not charged.
473
00:34:46,860 --> 00:34:52,339
But 11 church leaders are indicted on
conspiracy charges of food stamp fraud
474
00:34:52,340 --> 00:34:53,390
money laundering.
475
00:34:53,580 --> 00:34:58,100
And the one who matters most to the FBI
is Lyle Jett.
476
00:34:58,700 --> 00:35:04,499
We wanted Lyle because he was the guy
that was doing all the evil in the
477
00:35:04,500 --> 00:35:09,200
community, and he was the one directing
others to do these heinous acts.
478
00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:11,380
And so while the...
479
00:35:11,690 --> 00:35:17,249
The food stamp case wasn't the sexiest
from a law enforcement standpoint. It
480
00:35:17,250 --> 00:35:23,289
still a very meaningful thing to us
because underlying that was the fact
481
00:35:23,290 --> 00:35:24,370
people were starving.
482
00:35:24,930 --> 00:35:28,090
Prosecutors argue that Lyle should
remain in custody.
483
00:35:28,910 --> 00:35:35,469
We considered the fact that Warren Jeffs
had fled, and we were
484
00:35:35,470 --> 00:35:40,010
fairly convinced that if given a chance
that Lyle Jeffs would flee.
485
00:35:40,710 --> 00:35:43,070
And the judge gives Lyle that chance.
486
00:35:43,770 --> 00:35:48,270
Placed in home confinement, Lyle
maneuvers his ankle monitor off.
487
00:35:48,510 --> 00:35:52,270
And just as Warren had done years
before, he runs away.
488
00:35:55,270 --> 00:36:00,709
We had very little leads. He fled in the
middle of the night. He had 24 hours or
489
00:36:00,710 --> 00:36:02,390
more head start on us.
490
00:36:02,670 --> 00:36:07,090
But before he leaves, he receives
personal direction from Warren.
491
00:36:07,610 --> 00:36:11,070
telling Lyle to resume his duties in
Short Creek.
492
00:36:11,410 --> 00:36:15,320
Warren just told him to not fear law
enforcement, that he would be protected,
493
00:36:15,350 --> 00:36:17,770
and that he needed to just do what was
told.
494
00:36:18,330 --> 00:36:23,229
And that was to go and handle United
Order matters back in Short Creek,
495
00:36:23,230 --> 00:36:24,280
the bishop again.
496
00:36:24,390 --> 00:36:28,010
But Lyle is afraid, and he makes a
fateful decision.
497
00:36:29,070 --> 00:36:30,130
Disobey the prophet.
498
00:36:31,510 --> 00:36:33,370
Up next on American Greed.
499
00:36:34,230 --> 00:36:35,810
Justice for Lyle.
500
00:36:36,810 --> 00:36:43,509
Here he is going from living a
multimillion -dollar lifestyle to
501
00:36:43,510 --> 00:36:45,210
Leatherman to get a hamburger.
502
00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:13,659
For almost a year, the FBI pursues Lyle
Jeffs across the country, running down
503
00:37:13,660 --> 00:37:15,420
tips and following leads.
504
00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:22,159
We did our best in the very beginning to
try to locate him and find him, but we
505
00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:24,870
were always a little too far behind, a
little too late.
506
00:37:25,020 --> 00:37:30,540
The agents eventually put out a $50 ,000
reward, and that pays off.
507
00:37:30,990 --> 00:37:37,549
In July 2017, in Yankton, South Dakota,
the owner of a pawn shop calls local
508
00:37:37,550 --> 00:37:44,289
police to say wanted fugitive Lyle Jeffs
just pawned a Leatherman tool for
509
00:37:44,290 --> 00:37:45,340
$37.
510
00:37:46,450 --> 00:37:51,550
He's destitute. He's living like a
vagabond. He's driving around in his F
511
00:37:51,750 --> 00:37:53,010
living out of his vehicle.
512
00:37:53,350 --> 00:37:56,950
It appears Lyle is getting a taste of
his own bitter medicine.
513
00:37:57,450 --> 00:37:58,970
He disobeyed Warren.
514
00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:04,199
And so from prison, Warren has directed
his remaining followers in Short Creek
515
00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:06,760
to kick Lyle out of the church.
516
00:38:07,900 --> 00:38:13,339
And what that did to the people that
were supporting him is prevented them
517
00:38:13,340 --> 00:38:16,760
even talking to him or helping him in
any way.
518
00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:24,259
Consequently, he was on his own. Here he
is going from living a multimillion
519
00:38:24,260 --> 00:38:25,310
dollar lifestyle.
520
00:38:26,350 --> 00:38:28,830
Pawning a Leatherman to get a hamburger.
521
00:38:31,170 --> 00:38:33,250
All I could do was laugh.
522
00:38:34,410 --> 00:38:35,970
That was so fitting.
523
00:38:36,850 --> 00:38:40,510
Almost immediately, Gary Franz heads to
South Dakota.
524
00:38:40,930 --> 00:38:45,050
He gets word that Lyle has been pulled
over by a local cop.
525
00:38:45,590 --> 00:38:49,650
I responded within just a couple of
minutes of them pulling him over.
526
00:38:50,330 --> 00:38:55,789
And to walk around and to see Lyle and
to introduce myself and to let him know
527
00:38:55,790 --> 00:38:59,100
the FBI was here and that he had been
caught, that was pretty sweet.
528
00:39:01,850 --> 00:39:03,770
Lyle pleads guilty to fraud.
529
00:39:04,170 --> 00:39:09,169
The judge estimates the loss at $2
million and sentences Jeffs to nearly
530
00:39:09,170 --> 00:39:10,220
years.
531
00:39:10,410 --> 00:39:13,490
Brenda Nicholson attends his sentencing
hearing.
532
00:39:13,750 --> 00:39:18,389
And sometimes I feel like maybe it makes
me a bad person, but I really enjoyed
533
00:39:18,390 --> 00:39:19,710
sitting in the room.
534
00:39:20,230 --> 00:39:23,630
and seeing him in shackles and chains.
535
00:39:24,550 --> 00:39:31,249
Because he spiritually has enslaved so
536
00:39:31,250 --> 00:39:36,910
many people that it was nice to see at
least some degree of justice served.
537
00:39:37,390 --> 00:39:42,769
Brenda and her family are now living in
Vancouver, Washington, adjusting to a
538
00:39:42,770 --> 00:39:43,820
challenging life.
539
00:39:43,990 --> 00:39:46,210
We looked at the Gentile world as
horrific.
540
00:39:46,970 --> 00:39:49,950
dangerous, horrible place, and now it's
our world.
541
00:39:51,530 --> 00:39:58,369
And it really is like being dropped into
a foreign country. Yeah, we all spoke
542
00:39:58,370 --> 00:40:01,070
English, but words meant something
different to us.
543
00:40:01,710 --> 00:40:03,210
But she has no regrets.
544
00:40:03,910 --> 00:40:08,949
You know, my worst day out here is a
thousand times better than my best day
545
00:40:08,950 --> 00:40:13,630
there. That is a feeling many who left
share, like Cheryl Barlow.
546
00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:18,719
She eventually makes the decision to
join her husband, Dee, in life on the
547
00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:19,770
outside.
548
00:40:20,660 --> 00:40:26,619
Having the threat of losing my children
hanging over my head, it put a fire
549
00:40:26,620 --> 00:40:31,779
inside of me that I would not, no matter
what happened, I was not going to allow
550
00:40:31,780 --> 00:40:33,240
my kids to be taken away.
551
00:40:33,940 --> 00:40:39,579
Today, Cheryl and Dee live outside
Phoenix, Arizona, and their children,
552
00:40:39,580 --> 00:40:41,600
of them, are thriving.
553
00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:45,420
And it's a happy ending for Wallace
Jeffs as well.
554
00:40:45,940 --> 00:40:49,640
He sues the church and wins custody of
his children.
555
00:40:49,960 --> 00:40:52,920
At first, they want nothing to do with
him.
556
00:40:53,700 --> 00:40:54,780
I won them over.
557
00:40:55,260 --> 00:41:02,079
It took a while, but now they see the
light and they're actually grateful that
558
00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:03,130
did what I did.
559
00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:07,020
Saved them from horrible atrocities.
560
00:41:08,380 --> 00:41:09,430
Life is good.
561
00:41:11,360 --> 00:41:15,759
And that life is good feeling is
something Willie Jessup wants to return
562
00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:20,180
of Short Creek, to bring the community
back to where it once was.
563
00:41:20,181 --> 00:41:24,419
We've got to bring sports back. We've
got to bring dances back. We've got to
564
00:41:24,420 --> 00:41:28,279
bring empowerment to women to be able to
say, I have a right to know where my
565
00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:29,330
daughter is.
566
00:41:29,580 --> 00:41:33,780
Jessup now owns the enormous compound
Warren ordered built for him.
567
00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:36,460
He has turned part of it into a hotel.
568
00:41:37,620 --> 00:41:41,540
and turned what was the storehouse into
a thriving public school.
569
00:41:41,541 --> 00:41:46,639
You'll see it very typically. You'll see
a poor, timid little family with a few
570
00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:48,640
prairie dresses walk up into the school.
571
00:41:48,980 --> 00:41:52,839
A month later, they're wearing shorts
and whatever, and they've joined a
572
00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:55,739
basketball team, and they're out there
at midnight still trying to make free
573
00:41:55,740 --> 00:41:59,530
throws because they've never been able
to hit hoops or have the access to it.
574
00:42:05,520 --> 00:42:08,050
There is something of a renaissance
going on here.
575
00:42:08,420 --> 00:42:09,980
There is a new library.
576
00:42:10,760 --> 00:42:12,380
Playgrounds are being restored.
577
00:42:12,580 --> 00:42:14,020
Holidays are celebrated.
578
00:42:14,340 --> 00:42:16,280
The walls are coming down.
579
00:42:17,500 --> 00:42:24,299
Warren and Lyle Jeffs came into Short
Creek emboldened by unrelenting greed
580
00:42:24,300 --> 00:42:26,160
sucked from it everything they could.
581
00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:32,560
And now, their victims say they are
celebrating the sweet justice they feel.
582
00:42:33,290 --> 00:42:38,790
as the brothers sit behind bars, and
they rebuild their lives.
583
00:42:39,650 --> 00:42:43,649
And so it's actually something that just
brings a smile to your face to see how
584
00:42:43,650 --> 00:42:48,209
resilient societies can be once we were
able to get the cancer out, which was
585
00:42:48,210 --> 00:42:49,459
Lyle Jeffs and his brother.
586
00:42:49,460 --> 00:42:54,010
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