Polygamous leader takes plea deal in food-stamp fraud case

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A high-ranking polygamous leader was released from jail Wednesday after pleading guilty in a multimillion-dollar food-stamp fraud case, becoming the second of 11 defendants to accept a plea deal in the crackdown on the sect based along the Utah-Arizona border.

Federal prosecutors said deals could be coming with other defendants implicated in the scheme in which at least $12 million in food stamps was misused — some diverted to front companies to buy tractors, trucks and other items.

Seth Jeffs, 43, pleaded guilty to felony fraud after prosecutors agreed to accept the six months he has already served in jail as his punishment.

The charge carries a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison.

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