These undated file photos released by the Weber County Sheriff’s Office show Jacob Kingston, left, and Isaiah Kingston. (Weber County Sheriff’s Office via AP, File)
He went on to testify that he never told his uncle or other family members about the payment. No one associated with the coal mine was indicted.
Also during that time, Washakie needed money to fulfill contracts with legitimate biofuel companies. Kingston testified he never told Paul Kingston about the biofuel scheme but that he told Dermen that the uncle was pushing for a share of money from the scam.
“Levon indicated he had the power or ability to put my uncle in jail,” Kingston said.
That same month, the U.S. Treasury paid Washakie about $164 million in biofuel tax credits. Jacob Kingston testified he and Dermen had expected to receive $140 million and agreed half of that would go to “the boys.” The witness and defendant were to split the rest.
Later in 2015, Kingston testified, he bought Dermen a house in Huntington Beach, Calif., for about $3.5 million as a protection payment for Paul Kingston. Dermen called it the “Obama House,” Jacob Kingston said, for the biofuel tax credit President Barack Obama signed into law.
(Image via Belize Ministry of National Security) Belize Minister of National Security John B. Saldivar inspects security facilities according to a press release Dec. 14, 2019.
Also Tuesday morning, Kingston elaborated on his interactions with John Saldivar, the Belize security minister who over the weekend won an election to lead that nation’s ruling party. That put him in line to become the next prime minister. The witness said he remembered meeting with Saldivar in 2014 and 2015 and discussing money for political campaigns.
“He told us he had three or four individuals,” Kingston said, “part of his party and their intent to get reelected.”
Dermen offered to pay money to Saldivar to finance the campaigns, Kingston said. Then, in a series of text messages from Feb. 11, 2014, and shown to the jury, Saldivar reported Dermen wasn’t paying the $25,000 a month he said he would.
“Really need the February tranche,” Saldivar texted.
Kingston agreed to pay $50,000 to cover two months. He offered to wire the money, but Saldivar wrote that wasn’t a good idea. Kingston said he would send a business partner to Miami with the money.
“OK,” Saldivar wrote back, “I will head to Miami thursday.”
Kingston testified he didn’t know whom the tipster at the IRS was, though he was told the person went by the name “Mr. Green.”
An IRS representative in Utah did not return a message seeking comment Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Utah declined to comment on the coal mine case or whether there was any obstruction, citing the Dermen trial.
Geragos’ cross-examination will continue Wednesday.
pt 2 of 2