the Observer's source said. Vanguard Academys leaders sued state charter school officials in response, and a judge issued a restraining order that kept the targeted governing board members in their positions. Amanda Rae Grant alleges her father is Verl Johnson, accusing him of marrying 17-year-old Lori Peterson and two others to produce 33 children. Learn More. Article. [28][29], During the first years of the Davis County Cooperative Society, Elden Kingston and his followers wore unique blue denim outer garments that led to people referring to them as "blue-coats." connected with 23 commercial and residential properties in Salt Lake County In court, prosecutors have accused Jacob Kingston of sending some of the money to his church and using other proceeds to buy homes, sports cars and sending $134 million to Turkey for properties and business ventures. stole a half billion dollars worth of biodiesel tax credits. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. Their Utah-based empire is huge, however, and spans at least six states. never publicly endorsed polygamy, according to historian Richard S. Van [21] Over the past 25 years, many members have become college-educated and live in middle-to-upper-middle-class homes throughout their communities. As found in: Multiple sects currently claim to be true successor, however, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Factional breakdown: Mormon fundamentalist sects, "Unlikely whistleblower helps uncover alleged half-billion tax scam by secretive polygamist sect members", "Inside 'The Order,' One Mormon Cult's Secret Empire", The Primer, Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities, "Plural Marriage and Mormon Fundamentalism", "John Ortell Kingston (Elden's Brother) Leads 1948-87", "Patterns of Polygamy Davis County's Kingston clan - County's polygamy roots run deep", "Kingston pleads guilty to incest charge", "Incest could be behind probe of Kingston family", "2021 Utah Code:: Title 76 - Utah Criminal Code:: Chapter 7 - Offenses Against the Family:: Part 1 - Marital Violations:: Section 102 - Incest -- Definitions -- Penalty", "New allegations of abuse in the polygamous Kingston family", "Utah polygamist sect accused of indoctrination, rape and child marriage", "As trial nears end, critics of polygamous towns wonder whether verdict will matter", "Polygamists are urged to make public statement", "Shurtleff: Child bride polygamous marriages appear to have stopped", "No longer performing child-bride marriages? Hughes was the driver of a SUV that was . Phone calls there went unanswered Friday. lot to put up guards and all that. Joseph and Ted Kingston co-own a management company that itself owns 5% of the casino, and the bureau said that management company hasnt submitted an application either. They own many businesses and have ties with hundreds of businesses here in Utah and our neighboring states. [37], The Kingston family and other members of the LDCC have faced two lawsuits, one in 2006[38] and another in 2022[39] accusing members and the organization as a whole of sexual abuses, including pedophilia and underaged marriages, within their membership. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Doctrinally, members of the LDCJC try to adhere to the teachings of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. John Ortell Kingston (1919-1987): Brother to Charles Elden and son to their father Charles, John guided the church from 1948 to 1987. Utah Polygamists Run Secretive, Multimillion-Dollar Conglomerate : Religion: Kingston family conglomerate also has businesses in six other states. Lookout, page 5). contained a version of Lorin C. Woolley's claims that former LDS Church Department of Commerce records show at least 48 businesses affiliated with the Kingston family. The Kingston Clan are a fundamentalist Mormon splinter group in Utah. The case has resurrected a sordid side of Utah culture. The real estate in Salt Lake County alone totals $14.4 million, based on the market values listed on the assessors website, and include 25 properties that have owners who are not defendants in the fraud. [23] The group claims no preference for any particular family or surname stating members join every year "from a variety of different backgrounds and surnames. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. The Guardian typically does not identify people who allege to be a victim of sexual violence, but the publicly available lawsuit identifies Michaels, Lancaster and other plaintiffs by name. The group has a community bank where everyone, including young children, are said to have . The church, however, publicly renounced polygamy in 1890 and, as a condition of gaining statehood for Utah in 1896, political leaders were forced to include a ban on the practice in Article III of the state's constitution, which ensures religious freedom while "forever" prohibiting polygamous or plural marriages. which in turn sees after families' needs. A Mormon leader asked Juanita Brooks if her membership in the faith meant anything to her. at WRE," the agreement read, received a phone call from an individual who used the pseudonym Mr. "forever" prohibiting polygamous or plural marriages. They got married and contacted the . The Salt Lake Tribune IRS agents raid the property of several Kingston Clan properties . Rachel and Sally Kingston, who were officers at the company, were accused of helping forge documents or launder money, too. ", "C250 - Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee", "DCCS Self-Sustaining Policy, Contributions to the Community", "The Polygamist Accused of Scamming the U.S. Out of $500 Million", "Former WRE CEO testifies about money paid to DCCS Entities", "Jury Finds Los Angeles Businessman Guilty in $1 Billion Biodiesel Tax Fraud Scheme", "Polygamists Admit $512 Million Fraud for U.S. Fuel-Tax Credits", "CEO And CFO Of Utah Biodiesel Company And California Businessman Charged In $500 Million Fuel Tax Credit Scheme", "WRE Defendants arrested and awaiting trial", "Trial postponed for last defendant in fraud case involving members of the Kingston polygamous family", "Complaint and Jury Demand, Grant, et al. Ferrer asked. Mary told Bryan what she had seen while working at the Kingston's own private bank. The group also said that its business owners are strongly encouraged to follow all applicable laws when hiring, employing and compensating their employees. polygamous marriage, according to police reports. 'Escaping Polygamy' is a docuseries on Lifetime which follows the work of three sisters, who were able to break free from the polygamous Kingston Clan, known as the Order. Mr. Smith had 33 wives by some accounts; The Lake Elsinore Casino doesnt look like one of the shimmering resorts in Las Vegas. Ted Kingston has been the public face of Lake Elsinore Casino for years, representing the business in local news interviews, promotional events and government meetings. The lawsuit claims that Utah state officials went so far as to track down a man named Kyle Grant for the purposes of collecting child support payments, but they concluded he was not Amanda Rae Grants father. Their mother, Rachel Ann Kingston, 64, also pleaded guilty to five counts. At times, the Order has members forge and fabricate documents, often against their will, to further [their] self-interests, the lawsuit alleges. inner workings - and who asked to remain unnamed out of fear of reprisals June 15, 2011. to author Max Anderson, Charles W. Kingston helped produce a pamphlet that Kurt Eggert, a professor at Chapman University School of Law, in Orange, Calif., who has studied gambling statutes, said who owns Lake Elsinore Casino is only one story. Its two stories tall with a gray and brown exterior and a few palm trees in the parking lots. "When I found out that Mary's father had over 200 children, I knew something was very wrong," said Bryan Nelson. [22][23] Currently the group claims that although different skillsets bring different financial outcomes, there is no homelessness within the DCCS, and internal programs exist for those experiencing financial poverty.[2]. Theres no indication the licensing problems have been bad for business. Mike Leavitt (see Leavitt The Kingston Group said the concept of bleeding the beast is abhorrent and was never a tenet of its organization. The results were the same. ", First published on May 31, 2019 / 8:35 AM. The allegations facing the Kingston Group come after the state of Utah effectively decriminalized polygamy between consenting adults in 2020, making plural marriage an infraction similar in gravity to a speeding ticket. Jacob and Sally Kingston, 42, also gave money to Utah politicians, including Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. [50][51], Davis County Cooperative leadership and members swiftly condemned the fraudulent behavior stating that "[Jacob] broke from tradition in many ways" and stressing "to members and non-members alike that this behavior is not in line with our beliefs or principles." He died of cancer in 1948 at the age of 39. said. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sally Kingston, the wife of Jacob Kingston, leaves the federal courthouse, after a hearing for Jacob and Isaiah Kingston Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. None of them received a paycheck, they allege. We put up a digital billboard thats close to the freeway, right on the edge of our property which we own, which well be able to do marketing and advertising to be able to let the people on the 15 Freeway know what we have available for them.. The group added: Once an individual has made a decision on who to marry, members are encouraged to seek the blessing of their parents, family and/or church leaders, but to say that one individual chooses or heavily influences who will marry who is entirely inaccurate.. "Those are all my siblings," she replied. Included on the list is a medical building at 4400 S. 700 East in Millcreek. sltrib. III of the state's constitution, which ensures religious freedom while But the Kingstons are said to be the most financially well off. South Salt Lake, Utah ( KUTV) When several businesses inside the Kingston polygamist empire, including Washakie Renewable Energy, was raided by federal agents Wednesday, officials where tight . He was a kid when the Swift raids split his family. The clan leaders. One building the government wants to seize is the West Valley City home of gun-maker Desert Tech. The complaint says Ted Kingston inherited or acquired his fathers shares. aren't sparked at dances that occur monthly or so, leaders of the group Gaming regulators approved the sale in 1993 and issued the necessary permits. The Cooperative itself was established in 1935. [27] It is not affiliated with the mainstream LDS Church. The government motion for whats called asset forfeiture strikes at one of the core beliefs and practices of the Kingston Group. "They were all there with munitions. [13][verification needed], The Latter Day Church of Christ is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a presence in Bountiful, Utah. Its not like some normal church where people who dont know each other come to church on Sunday, Brewer said. It also is why David 0. But with the right data . However, the fraud accusations confronting the Kingston Group extend well beyond Washakie and other Order-run businesses. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. Of all the businesses owned by Utahs Kingston family, perhaps none receive the government scrutiny of the Lake Elsinore Casino in Southern California. The "organization, as insiders refer to it, has maintained a remarkably low profile in Utah at the same time it has built a financial empire that ranks it among Utah's most sizable corporations. The Kingston Group declined to confirm its membership numbers. All went bareheaded and barefoot. -- including business associations with casinos, the Observer's source [20] Long-time leader John Ortell Kingston lived in a small one-story clapboard house in Salt Lake City up until the time of his death in 1987. titles and other names that shield the Kingstons from direct scrutiny. The plaintiffs complaint added those practices facilitated so-called attempts by the Kingston Group to bleed the beast a term used in polygamous communities to describe how they can benefit by defrauding the government and its taxpayers. Testimony in the 2020 trial for Lev Aslan Dermen . One of Kingstons's most profitable enterprises is a bituminous coal She responded: "It doesn't if it means not telling the truth.". The administrative law judges decision is expected to be made public in late June. is lead today by Charles E. Kingston's son, Paul E. Kingston, who is said "[44] Members claim they have been broadly and unfairly targeted by authorities for the negative actions of a small few. at least the LDS Church: The Latter-Day Church of Christ. Department of Commerce records show at least 48 businesses affiliated with A check of public documents in Salt Lake County alone of business and LeBaron, leader of a polygamous group organized under the Church Another is about how long California regulators have recognized there is a problem with the ownership of a major casino, Eggert said in an email, and how long the casino seems to have delayed the resolution of the problem by being nonresponsive to urgent requests for important information.. "Yeah," she said. Coin Machines Distributors; American Digital Systems; Family Stores True the Kingston family. had not returned the phone call. The men have access private jets, millions of dollars stashed abroad and an unidentified federal law-enforcement contact who apparently tipped them off ahead of a raid, special assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Goemaat said at a hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. Despite the numerous sources of income available to the Kingston organization, [18][7], The Cooperative had its birth during the Great Depression when many families struggled immensely to provide for their families. That helps explain why, John Ortel Kingston later met once with Mr. LeBaron and then, according According to the casinos website, the gambling is limited to card games and wagering on horse races simulcast into the sports bar. 0. ideas espoused in Mr. Woolley's story and began practicing polygamy. Federal prosecutors earlier in the week filed an intent to seize dozens of homes, businesses and other properties. polygamous clans' companies, which include vending machine businesses, The Kingston clan has about 1,000 members and $150 million in business. Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (led by Rulon Carl E. Kingston is listed as the registered agent for many Kingston business holdings; he is also the family member the Kingston clan relies on to represent them in any legal wranglings. Besides admitting to a variety of frauds, Jacob Kingston said he agreed to share proceeds with Dermen in exchange for protection from his umbrella of federal law enforcement contacts. Chino_Blanco 5 days ago. The Kingston sisters were able to help her escape although Ava wanted to stay with her family, she knew she couldn't give up her sense of self and continue watching the cycle of abuse continue. Lake Elsinore Casino, which also has been known as the Sahara Dunes Casino, has been operating under a provisional license since 1999, according to a complaint filed last year by Californias Bureau of Gambling Control. marriage.". It marked the latest chapter in Utahs long, complicated history with polygamy. Before a 2016 federal raid on Washakie Renewable Energy offices and other businesses associated with the Kingston Group, the energy company was one of the highest-profile businesses in Utah. The group has called the Pure Kingston Blood term fringe, unfamiliar, and somewhat offensive for its members, and it rejects any preference for any particular family or bloodline. Kingston from jail after he was charged earlier this month with two counts of incest and one count of unlawful sexual conduct with his niece, all third-degree felonies. And it was costing a Prosecutors did not seek to detain Rachel and Sally Kingston and they remain free. According to the government, Washakie's founders, brothers Jacob and Isaiah Kingston, falsified the company's tax filings to obtain a massive $511 million worth of fraudulent tax credits. The practice The group argued that its values exact self-sufficiency and that per capita its members save or contribute more to their community than the average citizen does. "So, we were given just stacks and stacks of checks, and just signing them, signing them and they would just deposit that and just whatever account they needed.". The Kingstons are well known for polygamy, incest, child abuse, racism, forced marriages, and shady business practices, including tax and welfare fraud. Two locations serve as primary headquarters for many Kingston operations; a tidy but nondescript brick building it 3212 S. State St., and a nearby concrete warehouse-line structure at 53 W. Angelo Ave. even as the church publicly disavowed the practice. This practice has been attributed to "endogamous preference and the small size of the groups population" according to recent research from the University of California. Prosecutors had not only business records to show a jury but also copies of the sects teachings. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. While the clan shares many of the beliefs of other polygamous groups, it stands apart in practicing incest, former members . The complaint says Ted Kingston inherited or acquired his father's shares. "It was more like an organized crime family," said Mary Nelson. "What kind of harassment did you and Mary receive?" The Kingstons have crated a religious organization that mimics in name Prosecutors also have filed notice of intent to seize property from the sect's incorporated church, the Latter-Day Church of Christ. The Kingston clan is also known as the Davis County Cooperative. [23][36] These relationships are defined as incestuous according to Utah's Criminal Code 76-7-102 (2021), which states: "Related person" means a person related to the provider or actor as an ancestor, descendant, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or first cousin, and includes: (i) blood relationships of the whole or half blood without regard to legitimacy; (ii) the relationship of parent and child by adoption; and (iii) the relationship of stepparent and stepchild while the marriage creating the relationship of a stepparent and stepchild exists. Kingston began preaching polygamy amongst fellow members of the LDS Church and distributing pamphlets and the book he had co-written, Laman Manasseh Victorious: A Message of Salvation and Redemption to His People Israel, First to Ephraim and Manasseh. After two years of investigating, they did not find any welfare fraud. 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