A businessman named Moroni Johnson pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiring with the leader of a polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border, Samuel Bateman, in transporting underage girls across state lines. This marks the first conviction in a scheme authorities say was orchestrated to involve children in sexual acts. Johnson admitted to participating in a three-year conspiracy with Bateman, who had created a network spanning at least four states in an attempt to start an offshoot of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet, had taken more than 20 wives, including 10 girls under the age of 18. He was accused of giving wives as gifts to his male followers, claiming to do so on orders from the "Heavenly Father." Investigators revealed that Bateman traveled extensively between Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska, engaging in sexual activity with minor girls on a regular basis. Some of the sexual acts were recorded and transmitted across state lines via electronic devices.

Authorities also found that Bateman demanded his followers publicly confess any indiscretions and shared those confessions widely. He claimed the punishments, which included public shaming and sexual activity, were ordered by the Lord. Johnson, pressured by Bateman, gave up three of his wives as atonement for not treating Bateman as a prophet.

Bateman was initially arrested in August 2022 after three girls between the ages of 11 and 14 were found in a trailer with no ventilation. He was arrested again the following month and charged with obstructing justice in a federal investigation. Nine children were removed from his home in Colorado City and placed in foster care, but eight of them later escaped with the help of three of Bateman's adult wives. The girls were later found in Washington state in a vehicle driven by one of the wives.

Bateman has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges, including conspiracy to transport a minor for sexual activity and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Four of his adult wives have pleaded guilty to charges related to witnessing Bateman engaging in sexual acts with child brides and participating in the plot to kidnap the eight girls from state custody. Charges are also pending against four other women identified as Bateman's wives and two male followers. The four women and two men have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Bateman is currently jailed awaiting trial in September.