[7] Some members of the church are also believed to practice consanguineous marriage, or marriage to relatives within the group. The background investigation for what is now Lake Elsinore Casino and its owners was completed by September 2008. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. It sells shoes, mines coal, operates pawn shops . but argued many members of the Kingston Group bore some culpability if only for not reporting what they knew about the frauds. Andrea Brewer, another star of "Escaping Polygamy," had some concern about seizing the homes She and Christensen thought about what it would be like if their mothers faced the loss of their residences. Despite an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 Kingston family members, they aren't Corp.; Fountain of Youth Health and Athletic Club; East Side Market; Mountain Utah Polygamists Run Secretive, Multimillion-Dollar Conglomerate : Religion: Kingston family conglomerate also has businesses in six other states. Carolyn Hughes, 24, was charged in April with negligent homicide in a September 2015 crash in which her three-year-old daughter, Paisley, was killed. However, the fraud accusations confronting the Kingston Group extend well beyond Washakie and other Order-run businesses. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Then there was a brick thrown through our window.". [43] Responding to child marriage allegations in September 2022, the organization told The Guardian that "current policy prohibits plural marriage for members under 18" and "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". real estate holdings reveals an astonishing array of enterprises. And, "We cannot and will not condone or support anyone found to be engaged in any fraudulent behaviors. Charles W. Kingston's oldest son, Charles Elden Kingston, embraced the And hes been accused of assisting in moving money to Turkey and threatening witnesses. Even though only four members of the Kingston Group have been charged with crimes, the governments motion seeks to take homes and businesses from a wider swath of followers. Consecrating property to the group is not the only way members are expected could be considered consenting adults in such relationships. Prison sentences ranged between six and 40 years. "Yeah," she said. Kingston, who is employed by American Digital [46], In July 2019, Jacob Kingston, Isaiah Kingston, and two others pled guilty to participating in a fraud scheme masterminded by Lev Derman, a non-member and Armenian national. Group members knew of the abuse, her complaint alleges, but did not report or stop it. This was told as a funny story in Amandas family, the lawsuit alleges. Five people, including four Utah family members associated with a polygamous clan, were sentenced to federal prison last week for a billion-dollar tax fraud scheme associated with their biofuel company, according to a statement released April 7. Their Utah-based empire is huge, however, and spans at least six states. A trial threatened to air the inner workings of the Kingston Group. Clyde Kingston died in 2005. I can imagine the stress factor of these people worrying about losing their homes for something they had nothing to do with," Foster said. The Kingstons are well known for polygamy, incest, child abuse, racism, forced marriages, and shady business practices, including tax and welfare fraud. Prosecutors also have filed notice of intent to seize property from the sect's incorporated church, the Latter-Day Church of Christ. '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. He has been accused of leading a California criminal organization that had business dealings with Jacob and Isaiah Kingston. The government motion for whats called asset forfeiture strikes at one of the core beliefs and practices of the Kingston Group. The lawsuit contains explicit details of how Kingston Group leaders who also own and operate several businesses and schools in the suburbs of Utahs capital, Salt Lake City allegedly arrange incestuous and sometimes underage marriages between teenage girls and adult men with exalted status to produce hundreds of children. Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (led by Rulon Casino owners had to submit to a new, more stringent licensing process. was a necessary element of celestial 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. J. Ortell Kingston aggressively pursued a financially-expansive agenda for the Davis County Cooperative Society Inc.[25] in the hopes of improving the financial condition of his followers. [14] Some of their secrecy might be attributed to a fear of arrest for living in plural marriages, as had happened in 19591960 when being investigated by the Davis County Grand Jury, which some members claimed was organized by LDS Apostles Mark E. Peterson and Spencer W. They got married and contacted the . The process for licensing and keeping a license requires undergoing background checks, disclosing details of the applicants finances, listing key employees at the casino and accounting for the gamblers losses and payouts. John Ortell Kingston (1919-1987): Brother to Charles Elden and son to their father Charles, John guided the church from 1948 to 1987. Arrow Real Estate and Property Compliance, Fountain of Youth Health and Athletic Club. (59 reviews) "The staff were super frienly and helpful. According to a history published in the bureau complaint, cousins Joseph and Clyde Elden Kingston, along with Clydes son Ted and Josephs daughter Michelle Kingston-Knighton began the purchasing process in 1991. child abuse. Illustration by Sean McCabe. Even a critic of the Kingston Group had concerns Friday. The case has resurrected a sordid side of Utah culture. The clan His brother faces up to 20, and Rachel and Sally Kingston each face up to 15 years in prison. Ben Bradlee Jr. and Dale Van Atta (Prophet of Blood). A family of Mormon polygamists known as the Kingston Clan . "You were afraid that they were going to hunt you down," said Ferrer. In March 2016, as the second background investigation was underway, Ted Kingston appeared in front of the California Horse Racing Board to ask permission to install off-track betting. Various reports have estimated the Kingston holdings at $150 million to $170 million. The "organization, as insiders refer to it, has maintained a remarkably [11] On February 7, 1941, the community founded by Elden Kingston officially declared themselves the Davis County Cooperative Society Inc. [39] The 2022 complaint was filed by attorney, Roger Hoole,[39] an attorney known for representing ex-members of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He allegedly was told that his hourly pay was $3.23. They also claimed to believe that marriage is a personal choice that should not be coerced. If attractions In August, the Utah state charter school board mandated that the Kingston Group-run charter school, Vanguard Academy, replace all nine members of its governing board after various and repeated violations. [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. This is especially true of the mother, who has the legal right to establish paternity or not to establish paternity at the time of filing, the Kingston Group said in a statement. "So, it began with just like cars parked down the street right, just watching us," Bryan Nelson explained. Theres no mention in the complaint of the Kingston Group. Dermen, also known as Levon Termendzhyan, is not a member of the Kingston Group. was so prolific that many native Utahns' have polygamist Jacob and Sally Kingston, 42, also gave money to Utah politicians, including Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. and the insurer is claiming, among other things, that he lied about the 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. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Federal prosecutors have given notice they want to seize homes and businesses belonging to rank-and-file members of the polygamous Davis County Cooperative Society, also known as the Kingston Group. [30] This practice lasted only a short time and was abandoned sometime before 1940. The hotel is walking distance from the station (10 minute walk) and the room we were in had a great view!" Reviewed on Jul 13, 2018. She assumes the defendants coordinated with each other to avoid having discussion of the Kingston Group in public. said. "We didn't know that that's what we were. (Other properties likely are held under other names.). to have more than 30 wives. and David 0. The Cooperative itself was established in 1935. Ferrer asked Mary Nelson, holding a photo of her parent's family. Utah farms and severely beat her for attempting to escape her arranged business holdings; he is also the family member the Kingston clan relies They are scattered across the northern part of the state, from suburban Bountiful to isolated Washakie, where one of their holdings abuts a Shoshone cemetery. The family is the namesake of the Kingston Group, the polygamous sect thats also known as the Davis County Cooperative Society. The lawsuit explains how the birth certificates of multiple plaintiffs failed to list their biological fathers, so those men could escape the legal consequences inherent to having multiple and often underage wives. [39], The organization continues to publicly denounce the practice of child marriage,[41][39] and maintains that marriages within the group are not coerced. By the time he was 12, Roberts said, he was working 12-hour shifts at a mine the Order ran. Prosecutors had not only business records to show a jury but also copies of the sects teachings. Now he has a podcast about it. on to represent them in any legal wranglings. 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.. The plight of the girl, identified in court records only as "M.N.," became public after her father took her to one -of the family's northern Utah farms and severely beat her for attempting to escape her arranged polygamous marriage, according to police reports. Learn More. On Feb. 10. Photograph: Douglas Pulsipher/Alamy. Jacob O. Kingston, the companys CEO, pleaded guilty Thursday to 41 charges including money laundering, fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering and obstruction of justice, according to a court docket. The Latter Day Church of Christ,[1] is considered a Mormon fundamentalist denomination by some in the Latter Day Saint movement. 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. 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. His brother and company CFO Isaiah Kingston pleaded guilty to more than a dozen similar counts. "[2], According to a 2011 document prepared by the attorneys general of the states of Utah and Arizona, the church describes itself as emphasizing family values, education, self-sufficiency, and the belief that every child is a priceless blessing. for comment on the family's holdings, but Mr. Kingston as of press time Washakie Renewable Energy appears to be the most profitable business owned by group members. June 15, 2011. He also is representing another family member . The suit alleges Kingston family members try to preserve their blood purity which they refer to as Pure Kingston Blood by marrying and procreating with other Kingstons. After the escape, the couple married and eventually had two children. I knew that an individual, code-named Commissioner Gordon, Rachel Kingston said in her plea agreement, "who I believed to be a high level DOJ official, was going to help [Washakie] with its legal troubles. The lawsuit against the group is not the first time it has faced media scrutiny or legal peril. Chances are many Salt Lakers have unknowingly patronized the extended polygamous clans' companies, which include vending machine businesses, an ice distributor, accounting and financial firms, grocery and clothing stores, a fitness spa, and even a preschool. He is defending David 0. Ironically, as a businessman, Kingston was the one who first pushed the church's business agenda. Personal and business incomes are deposited to the sect, which then returns money the individual or firm needs for expenses. The girl was David 0. The case has resurrected a sordid side of Utah culture. The Kingston organization is structured as a vast cooperative endeavor. The Kingston Clan is a Mormon fundamentalist faction of the Latter Day Saints called The Latter Day Church of Christ, started initially by Charles Elden Kingston in 1935, and later renamed by John Ortell Kingston in 1977 (Kenworthy). The 47-year-old girl is now in protective state custody. According to property tax records, they are connected with 23 commercial and residential properties in Salt Lake County valued at $3.3 million listed under a Kingston entity called "World Enterprises." The 47-year-old girl is now in protective state custody. The corporation produces goods and services that are used by members, and sold or traded to other cooperatives and to the public. Mr. Smith had 33 wives by some accounts; Brigham Young, second leader of the church, had 27 wives. lot to put up guards and all that. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. and for all. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Lake Elsinore Econo Lodge Casino in Lake Elsinore, California. Tracing the clan's holdings is difficult, though, given the Kingston's 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? Legitimate businesses, including those in the Cooperative, argued that Jacob hid the scheme from business partners as well as Co-op leadership. The four Kingstons and a co-defendant, Lev Aslan Dermen, were scheduled to go to trial July 29. The federal government also wants to seize the office building in South Salt Lake that law enforcement raided in 2016 seeking evidence of fraud by Washakie and other businesses. 0. The Lake Elsinore Casino doesnt look like one of the shimmering resorts in Las Vegas. The delay appears to have been a side effect of the law change in the late 1990s. The companies included Standard Restaurant Supply, and A-Fab Engineering and multiple financial firms. Former sect members who reviewed the list of properties and their registered owners at the request of The Salt Lake Tribune said the homes include those belonging to wives of Paul E. Kingston, the leader of the group. David Kingston is alleged to have married his 16-year-old niece Mary Ann Nelson, who attempted to run away but was apprehended and beaten by her father, John Daniel Kingston. has a body bag. Heidi Foster, a member of the Kingston Group, on Friday called the attempts to seize all the properties insane. She said the people living in the homes had no role in the fraud. A view of Salt Lake City. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled for any of the defendants. "So, when Mary was telling me -- this is the biggest company that the Order has, I started to immediately suspect fraud," Bryan Nelson explained. and lignite mine in Huntington (Carbon County), which at one time brought The federal government paid Washakie $511 million, according to court documents. "Those are all my siblings," she replied. Chino_Blanco 5 days ago. 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. low profile in Utah at the same time it has built a financial empire that Kingston from jail State audit alleges former Cache County prosecutors misused public resources, had side contracts without countys knowledge, Utah flooding resource guide: What to do before, during and after a flood, old Mormon practice known as a united order, alleged the company didnt manufacture much fuel, passing the commodities off as their own product, leading a California criminal organization. Apr 18 - Apr 19. to produce a baby a year. But the Kingstons are said to be the most financially well off. for example, it's impossible to find any property records in the Kingston Those permits were renewed annually. the families carry out an austere existence that sometimes borders on poverty. Brothers John Daniel Kingston, the father of the girl now in state custody, That complaint seeks to deny the casino a regular license. Their mother, Rachel Ann Kingston, 64, also pleaded guilty to five counts. Utah, and and holdings in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, California and Nevada The suit alleges episodes of rape aimed at forcing pregnancy, group members covering up years of sexual abuse and indoctrinating children in elementary school about plural marriage. [10], According to his autobiography, Charles W. Kingston became disenchanted with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1926 because it abandoned plural marriage. The extent of the clan's influence only came to light recently, when the IRS raided several Kingston-owned businessesincluding Washakie Renewable, an energy company owned by Julianna's former . He died of cancer in 1948 at the age of 39. In response to a CBS request for comment and an interview, the Kingston group said they "condemn in the strongest terms fraudulent business practices and stress that this behavior goes completely against our beliefs and principles." Various reports California casino owners, on the other hand, must be licensed by the state even if they are only a part owner. One of Kingstons's most profitable enterprises is a bituminous coal But one source intimately familiar with the Kingston organization's They own businesses from chain restaurants to construction companies to firearms manufacturers (namely Desert . 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