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John Hollenhorst ReportingYesterday we learned that the polygamy group led by fugitive Warren Jeffs is secretly developing another compound in South Dakota. That caused many to ask, "Where does Jeffs get all his money?"
The South Dakota property is at least the third compound the group launched in the last couple of years, at a cost well into the millions. It appears that being a prophet can be profitable.
The Jeffs group bought large tracts of land in Colorado, South Dakota and Texas. Jeffs followers started a wave of construction projects, including their first temple. The FLDS church obviously has money to spend.
Bruce Wisan, Court Appointed Fiduciary: "Yes, there is a very sizable cash flow."
Court-appointed fiduciary Bruce Wisan says the money comes from Jeffs' followers. Most of them live and work on the Utah-Arizona border.
Bruce Wisan: "There are a lot of different business that are owned by church members that we believe contribute substantial amounts of money to the church."
The businesses include farms, construction, precision manufacturing, even a plant that makes ID badges for conventioneers. All generate revenue for prophet Warren Jeffs.
Roger Hoole, Attorney: "He controls their very lives. To control their business is second thought."
Attorney Roger Hoole is suing Jeffs of behalf of former members. He says the faithful traditionally paid a ten percent tithing on their income.
Roger Hoole: "But it's more than that now. From what I understand, he demands much, much more than that."
Even ex-members, kicked out by Jeffs, will reportedly pay double or more to win back his good graces.
Bruce Wisan: "People just pay whatever they can, those that are outside, trying to get back in."
As the building program escalated, Jeffs hit his followers with special assessments.
Bruce Wisan: "Depending upon the ability of the family, they are assessed an additional $500 or $1000 per month."
Hoole and Wisan disagree on whether the new compounds rightfully belong to the U.E.P. trust. That's the group's real-estate holding entity, which has now been ordered under court control. That's one more potential legal battle facing Jeffs, if he ever decides to show up and fight.
