Where is Warren Jeffs’ Brother Lyle Jeffs Now? – Warren Jeffs’ brother, Lyle Jeffs, is a bishop in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the FLDS Church. In several church papers, he is referred to as his brother’s “special counsellor.” Jeffs served as the FLDS bishop in Hildale, Utah, as well as Colorado City, Arizona. He was removed from office in 2012, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. In 2017, he was found guilty of arranging a benefit fraud scam and sentenced to five years in jail. Jeffs is also the son of Rulon Jeffs and the uncle of novelist and ex-FLDS member Brent W. Jeffs.
‘Preaching Evil: A Wife on the Run With Warren Jeffs,’ a four-part docuseries from Peacock, digs into the charges against the religious leader and his group, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Authorities later discovered a community-wide pattern of child abuse that was intrinsically polygamous.
After President Warren Jeffs was convicted and sentenced to prison, his brother, Lyle Jeffs, took over as a de-facto leader and carried out his brother’s commands. So, how about we find out what happened to Lyle?
Must Read: Where Are Warren Jeffs’ Wives Today? How Many Wives Do FLDS Have?
Lyle Jeffs, Who is He?
Warren was convicted of child sexual assault and sentenced to life in prison in 2011. During Warren’s imprisonment, his brother Lyle took over as interim pastor of the church and imposed strict rules, frequently at Warren’s request. Lyle had forbidden marriages, sex between spouses, and even certain foods like milk, sweets, and chocolate at the time. He also kicked people out. “Dad would do anything Warren instructed him to do,” one of Lyle’s sons, Thomas Jeffs, later stated. Anything.”
Lyle Jeffs, the FLDS, Paragon Contractors, and a few other people were investigated by the US Department of Labor in 2012 on suspicion of child labour at a pecan farm in Utah. Children were reportedly running heavy gear and shovelling dirt, according to press sources. Authorities estimated that around 1400 child employees were involved, and Lyle allegedly instructed other church leaders to persuade youngsters to skip school and work for free.
Authorities suspected Lyle and a few other church members of being involved in a multimillion-dollar food stamp scheme a few years later. The initiative in question was the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, which was designed to assist low-income families in purchasing food.
The members were allegedly urged to hand over their benefits to the bosses. The resources were shared, and members were instructed to take only what they required. As a result, although higher-level members received meat and fish on a regular basis, the lower-level members were limited to rice, beans, and toast.
Lyle and the others were also accused of using these cards to launder money at church-controlled stores, according to the authorities. Lyle was placed under house arrest in June 2016 while awaiting trial. He, too, eluded capture and went on the run, just like Warren. Lyle was suspected of slipping out of the GPS tracker on his ankle with the use of olive oil. Former members of the FLDS believed it was unavoidable, and that Lyle had numerous options.
What Happened to Lyle Jeffs and Where Is He Now?
Lyle was apprehended in Yankton, South Dakota, after a year on the run. He was detained while living out of his car after a tip. Lyle pled guilty to one count each of cheating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and failing to appear in court in September 2017, when he was 57 years old.
In December of the same year, he was sentenced to 57 months in prison. “I acknowledge my mistakes and my decision-making and how it has harmed the law,” Lyle stated during his sentence. I accept responsibility for my acts with humility. In terms of my religious convictions, I am sincere. I have no intention of jeopardising that.”
A judge ordered Lyle to pay back wages and damages for previous child labour law violations in October 2021. According to prison records, he was freed in March 2021. Official documentation had previously highlighted a rift between Warren and Lyle, which resulted in the latter’s removal as bishop.
Lyle appears to have returned to Utah following his release, as that is where he currently resides, but it is unclear what position he currently occupies in the church. He is said to have had 9 wives and 60 children at one time.