Mormon fugitive's brother charged
 Seth Jeffs was carrying money to his polygamist brother, Warren, court documents say. The latter is wanted by the FBI.
 
By Alicia Caldwell
Denver Post
 
The brother of fugitive Mormon polygamist Warren Jeffs was charged Monday with hiding the rebel religious leader after Pueblo sheriff's deputies found the brother transporting money and letters addressed to Jeffs.

After receiving a report of a suspected drunken driver Friday, deputies pulled over a car carrying Seth Jeffs and another man, according to arrest documents filed in U.S. District Court in Denver.

Deputies found about $142,000, sealed envelopes addressed to "The Prophet," and seven cellphones. Warren Jeffs, who is on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list, has been indicted on two counts of sex with a minor but remains at large.

When Seth Jeffs was pulled over on Interstate 25, he told authorities he was on his way from a church headquarters in Utah to another in Texas. The driver of the car, Nathan Allred, said Seth Jeffs had paid him $5,000 for his sexual services, according to the arrest affidavit.

Deputies arrested Allred and Seth Jeffs on prostitution and solicitation charges, according to the affidavit. After getting a search warrant for the vehicle, authorities found a glass container fashioned into a donation jar. Affixed to the container was a photograph of Warren Jeffs and a label that said "Pennies for the Prophet."

They also found several hundred letters addressed to Warren Jeffs relating to a variety of personal matters and issues involving the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The sect, which separated from mainstream Mormonism in 1890, has an estimated 10,000 followers and has established communities in Hilldale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

During a subsequent interview with the FBI, Seth Jeffs explained that he is a "messenger" for the church. He said he was delivering the documents and other materials to a bishop in Texas.

According to the arrest affidavit, he said he didn't know where his brother was but added that, "It would be stupid to tell anyone where he is because he would get caught." He also told authorities that "the prophets are often persecuted."

Seth Jeffs, 32, of Hilldale made an initial appearance Monday in District Court in Denver and remains in federal custody. Concealing a person from arrest is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Preliminary and detention hearings are set for Thursday.

Staff writer Alicia Caldwell can be reached at 303-820-1930 or at acaldwell@denverpost.com.
 
DenverPost.com
Originally published November 1, 2005
 
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