A plea deal in artifacts case?

A plea deal may be in the works for the widow of a prominent Blanding physician who committed suicide amid indictments that the couple and others were illegally dealing in American Indian artifacts.

According to court docket information, a hearing is scheduled for Monday in order to allow Jeanne Redd to change her plea. Redd and her husband James Redd were among 24 people from Utah, New Mexico and Colorado who were arrested as part of a massive federal sting operation last month.

All of the suspects were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of illegally trading and selling American Indian artifacts taken from federal lands.

James Redd committed suicide shortly after the arrest. Since then, New Mexico resident and suspect Steven L. Shrader also killed himself.

U.S. Attorney for Utah spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch said her office is not commenting on next week's plea hearing. Typically, a change of plea hearing is indicative of a plea deal in which the person admits to certain elements in a case.

Charges against James Redd were dismissed in court posthumously.

Federal officials say they are also investigating Jeanne Redd's involvement in a possible scheme to obtain money from a multilevel marketing company. A new warrant was issued last week after agents found entries of a possible scheme in journals handwritten by the couple. Federal officials say that investigation is ongoing.