Plea deals offered in FLDS food-stamp fraud case, not to still missing Jeffs
(KUTV) In a major development, the U.S. attorney’s office has handed out plea deals to many of the accused in a Utah food stamp fraud case -- the equivalent of a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Eleven members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, known as the FLDS faith, including Lyle Jeffs, face felony charges of ripping off the federal government through the illegal use of food stamps.
The only person not to getting a deal is Jeffs, who is still on the run from authorities.
"This is a huge resolution and it's a beneficial resolution for the defense,” said defense attorney Rudy Bautista, who represents Kimball Barlow, one of the 11 charged.
Barlow faced years in prison if found guilty. Now as part of the plea deal which he accepted on Friday, according to Bautista, his felony has been dropped to conspiracy to commit fraud which comes with no time in jail.
“Makes this a very favorable plea deal for Mr. Barlow to resolve this and he's excited to put it behind him and move on with his life,” said Bautista who admits the deal even surprised him. “[It was] so beneficial for Mr. Kimball that there wasn't any hesitation to accept it."
Attorney Ryan Stout who represents Ruth Barlow said his client will accept the plea deal.
“Offer has been accepted,” he said.
But there are some who are very upset about the plea deals. That includes Tonia Tewell who runs Holding out HELP, a nonprofit organization that assist polygamous who have escaped the faith.
"I feel like somebody owes an explanation,” Tewell said. "I'm very angry about it, because I feel like we finally have them on a silver platter to send a message that this is not OK. I’m hoping that I'm wrong and there is another purpose behind it that makes sense."
The U.S. attorney's office says it’s not able to comment about the plea deals or say why they are being handed out.
According to defense attorneys, the deadline to accept the deals is Fridayday. A court hearing will then be scheduled where this will be addressed before a judge.
