FLDS trust demands evidence from raid

In 2005, a judge took control of the UEP Trust, freezing its assets after allegations by state authorities that FLDS leader Warren Jeffs and other trustees had mismanaged it. The trust, with an estimated $110 million in assets, controls homes, businesses and properties within the FLDS enclaves of Hildale, Utah; Colorado City, Ariz.; and Bountiful, B.C., Canada.

The UEP is based on the early LDS concept of a "united order," in which everything is given to the church and it is doled out to members according to wants and needs. The courts recently enacted reforms, paving the way for private-property ownership.

Subdividing the property remains a struggle, Wisan wrote. Lawsuits are pending in efforts to record the properties.

Since the raid on the YFZ Ranch, Wisan said that those living in Hildale and Colorado City have had an abrupt change of position and have begun signing occupancy agreements for the UEP homes. As of April 30, 464 people have signed agreements to live in the homes and pay $100 a month fees for infrastructure improvements within the communities.

"The fiduciary is informed that FLDS leadership have instructed their followers to sign occupancy agreements and pay assessment fees," Wisan wrote, adding that some FLDS faithful are becoming more cooperative — although there has been no change of attitude on the part of FLDS leaders.

Numerous lawsuits against the trust are pending, including one filed by Elissa Wall, the star witness in Washington County's criminal case against Warren Jeffs and another by two Iron County men seeking to stop the sale of a Beryl dairy farm with ties to the FLDS Church.

"The trust is now experiencing a serious cash crunch," Wisan wrote.

Wisan's lawyers are owed about $575,000 and his own accounting firm hasn't been paid since April 2007. The UEP Trust, which is property rich but cash poor, has about $54,000 in the bank.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com