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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Federal authorities have fined the Utah polygamous group led by Warren Jeffs and several of its members nearly $2 million dollars in a child labor investigation.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1Flrpnm) that the U.S. Department of Labor issued the fines in after probing a 2012 harvest at a southern Utah pecan farm that they say was directed by the secretive sect and involved up to 1,400 child workers.
Labor authorities fined the polygamous group, a contracting company, two sect members that own the company and leader Lyle Jeffs.
Lyle Jeffs and brother Nephi Jeffs were found in contempt of court last month for refusing to answer investigators' questions.
A Department of Labor spokesman says that the company and its owners are appealing. Defense attorneys did not respond to messages seeking comment.
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