BERGHOLZ (KDKA) – The FBI raided an Amish compound in Jefferson County, Ohio Wednesday morning and arrested seven men.

Among the arrested were breakaway sect-leader, Sam Mullet, and several of his sons and relatives.

The men are facing federal civil rights charges in connection with a series of beard-cutting attacks against other Amish.

The federal prosecutor filed hate crime charges against the men.

“We cannot categorize all the Amish as we do Sam Mullet,” Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s not Amish – he dresses as Amish.”

Sheriff Abdalla was in on the investigation early and had plenty of concerns about sect leader Sam Mullet, Sr., who’s now charged in federal court with orchestrating the restraint and cutting of hair of Amish people with whom his sect disagrees.

It’s a religious violation. Four attacks in four counties, say the feds, based on religious differences.

“They are not resolved by late night visits to people’s homes with weapons and violent attacks,” U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach said.

Three of Mullet’s followers were already arrested in Jefferson County for incidents that began in Holmes County.

If convicted, the federal charges bring a maximum of 10 years in prison.

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