According to FBI documents, a polygamist cult leader in Arizona is accused of transporting minors for illicit purposes and marrying underage girls.

According to FBI documents, a polygamist cult leader in Arizona is accused of transporting minors for illicit purposes and marrying underage girls.

Arizona Cult Leader Arrested by FBI

A federal court affidavit filed by the FBI brings serious accusations against Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 46, the polygamist cult leader in Arizona.

Documents state Bateman took part in transporting minors across state lines, intending to engage in illicit sexual activities, that took place between May 2020 and November 2021 and involved multiple states like Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Nebraska.

Bateman, who plead not guilty, is currently in custody and facing child abuse charges.

On September 6, a grand jury in Colorado City indicted Bateman on additional charges that include destruction or attempted destruction of records in an official proceeding, tampering or attempted tampering with an official proceeding, and destruction of records in a federal investigation.

Caught Red-Handed With Young Girls

Police stopped Bateman during a highway traffic stop where three young girls, 11 and 14 years old were confined in a trailer with a makeshift toilet, couch, and camping chairs.

Bateman is accused of marrying multiple underage girls, some of whom were as young as nine, with several under 15.

Shockingly, the affidavit also says Bateman attempted to marry his own daughter and that some of his wives were either wives or daughters of his male followers.

Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS)

Experts report Bateman encouraged his cult followers, including minors, to engage in sexual activities.

Officials say he may have ties to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a group well known for its practice of polygamy – despite its illegality in the United States.

The Mormon church has disavowed FLDS and considers the act of polygamy as grounds for excommunication.

Most recently the cult leader used the prison phones to have sexual conversations with children, according to the NY Post.

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3 thoughts on “Polygamist Cult Leader Arrested”
  1. This is a sick person but he fits in with all the sick bull shit going on now. What a terrible time to have under age kids, you need to worry every time they leave the house and what are they doing while at home. Most young people are good but there are always someone trying to lead them away. Good luck kids I have confidence in you.

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