IRS raids S.L. County properties with possible polygamist ties


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SOUTH SALT LAKE — Armed guards stood outside at least one local business with polygamist ties as box after box was carried out to be investigated by the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS was in town Wednesday conducting an "ongoing enforcement operation," IRS special agent and public information officer Nakia McCloud said. She would not confirm ownership of the businesses being raided, but an attorney for the Davis County Cooperative confirmed that his clients were cooperating with federal agents and that agents were seeking financial and accounting documents.

The property at 2955 S. Main and others raided Wednesday are believed to be owned by members of the Kingston Clan.

McCloud said the agency is searching various properties in the area and has a warrant to do so. She did not provide additional information, as the warrant and accompanying court documents are sealed by a U.S. District Court judge.

McCloud said she would not be discussing anything further until the information is made public.

The well-known polygamist Kingston Clan owns numerous properties in many states, extending its arm into a variety of operations, including vending, grocery, education, energy, farming and banking, and more. A 1998 Salt Lake Observer article indicates that the South Salt Lake property served as a primary headquarters for various Kingston family-owned entities.

Local police were on the scene with IRS agents, but did not comment on the situation.

Also on scene was a reality television film crew, with two former Kingston family members, stars of the upcoming "Escaping Polygamy." The women, Jessica and Shanell, who more than 10 years ago successfully escaped the polygamist family perceived to be under investigation, said they were "hopeful" the raids would turn up something useful.

While tax evasion is not an officially prescribed religious practice of any polygamist sect, a former Fundamentalist LDS Church member once testified to the U.S. Congress that members were told to avoid paying taxes and to sign up for government handouts wherever eligible.

A bill introduced by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in 2008 tried to establish help for victims of polygamy. The bill, though not enacted, includes tax evasion as one of the many crimes perpetrated by polygamist organizations, as well as child abuse, domestic violence and public corruption, among others.

David O. Kingston, a prominent family member, was convicted in 1999 of sexual crimes involving taking his 16-year-old niece as his 15th wife. His brother, John Daniel Kingston, also served time for beating his daughter who ran from an arranged incestuous marriage.

The IRS remained tight-lipped about Wednesday's proceedings at the South Salt Lake business, but it confirmed action at various locations, though not specifically identified, throughout the valley, which are also related to the sealed search warrant.

Contributing: Alex Cabrero

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