Kingdom of Fraud Podcast Explores Billion-Dollar Biofuel Scam and Corruption Network
The world of true crime podcasts is set to welcome another explosive investigation as the upcoming series Kingdom of Fraud dives deep into what is being described as one of the largest fraud probes in American history.
Hosted by acclaimed investigative journalist Michele McPhee, the seven-part series promises to unravel a complex network of financial crime, political influence, alleged corruption, and international money laundering tied to a billion-dollar biofuel subsidy scam in the United States.
The podcast, co-produced by Novel and iHeartPodcasts, will begin releasing weekly episodes starting May 12, with its trailer already generating significant attention among true crime listeners and investigative journalism followers.
At the center of the podcast lies an unlikely criminal alliance between two men from dramatically different worlds — Jacob Kingston and Levon Termendzhyan.
According to the series, the duo allegedly orchestrated a massive fraud scheme exploiting a US government biofuel subsidy program intended to encourage renewable energy production. Prosecutors previously claimed the operation manipulated tax credits and federal incentives worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The podcast explores how a government initiative designed to support clean energy innovation allegedly became the foundation for an empire built on deception, luxury spending, and global financial networks.
The Story Behind the Podcast
Investigative journalist Michele McPhee leads listeners through years of court records, interviews, insider testimony, and financial trails that stretch across multiple US states and international borders.
McPhee, known for her work covering organized crime and corruption, reportedly spent extensive time examining how the partnership between Kingston and Termendzhyan evolved into a sprawling operation with political and legal implications.
The podcast’s producers say the story goes beyond a simple financial crime narrative. Instead, it paints a broader picture of power, secrecy, religious influence, and institutional vulnerability.
What Listeners Can Expect
The seven-part series is expected to cover:
The origins of the biofuel subsidy scheme
How the alleged fraud network operated
The relationship between Kingston and Termendzhyan
Claims involving corrupt insiders and political contacts
International money laundering operations
Allegations of protection from federal scrutiny
The eventual unraveling of the operation
Each episode reportedly combines investigative reporting with cinematic storytelling, a format that has become increasingly popular among modern true crime podcast audiences.
Who Is Jacob Kingston?
One of the central figures in the series is Jacob Kingston, who comes from a prominent Mormon fundamentalist family based in Utah.
The podcast notes that Kingston was reportedly one of more than 100 children fathered within the extended family structure. Investigators allegedly traced how he rose from a relatively insulated religious environment into the center of a high-profile federal fraud investigation.
The series explores how Kingston’s business activities expanded rapidly as profits from the alleged scam increased.
According to reports referenced in the podcast, enormous sums of money were allegedly spent on luxury vehicles, high-end real estate, private jets, and lavish lifestyles far removed from the conservative image associated with his upbringing.
Levon Termendzhyan: “The Lion”
The second key figure in the story is Levon Termendzhyan, a Los Angeles businessman nicknamed “The Lion.”
The podcast portrays him as a charismatic and ambitious operator who allegedly played a critical role in expanding the financial reach of the operation.
Investigators reportedly believe Termendzhyan helped create links between the fraud scheme and a broader international network involving shell companies and overseas transactions.
The partnership between Kingston and Termendzhyan is described as both strategic and volatile, with the pair allegedly relying on each other’s connections and expertise to sustain the operation for years.
How the Biofuel Subsidy Scheme Worked
At the core of the alleged conspiracy was a renewable energy tax credit program created to encourage cleaner fuel alternatives in the United States.
Federal authorities previously claimed the scheme involved fraudulent claims tied to biodiesel production and renewable fuel incentives. Prosecutors alleged that fake transactions and manipulated documentation were used to secure massive government payouts.
The podcast reportedly explains the mechanics of the operation in accessible terms, helping listeners understand how an industry built around environmental sustainability became vulnerable to exploitation.
Key Allegations Highlighted in the Podcast
According to the series, investigators uncovered allegations involving:
Fake biofuel transactions
Fraudulent tax credit claims
Shell companies
Money laundering networks
Luxury asset purchases
Political influence
Obstruction efforts
The story also raises questions about oversight failures and how the alleged operation continued for years before federal authorities intervened.
From Utah to Los Angeles: Following the Money Trail
One of the most compelling aspects of Kingdom of Fraud is its geographical scope.
The series reportedly travels from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles while tracing the movement of money, business dealings, and personal relationships connected to the case.
Listeners are introduced to a network of businessmen, associates, and intermediaries who allegedly helped facilitate transactions and conceal financial activities.
The podcast also explores how luxury lifestyles became central to the story, with investigators reportedly examining extravagant spending patterns tied to the alleged fraud profits.
Claims of Corruption and Protection
Perhaps one of the most controversial elements of the podcast involves allegations surrounding a mysterious group referred to as “The Boys.”
According to the series, Jacob Kingston was allegedly told that the organization could shield the operation from law enforcement scrutiny due to connections within federal agencies.
While the podcast reportedly approaches these claims carefully, the allegations add another layer of intrigue to an already complex case.
The idea that influential networks could potentially interfere with investigations has become a recurring theme in major financial crime stories, and the series appears poised to examine those concerns in depth.
Why This Story Resonates Now
The release of Kingdom of Fraud comes at a time when audiences remain deeply interested in stories involving corruption, white-collar crime, and abuse of government programs.
Recent years have seen a surge in investigative podcasts examining:
Corporate fraud
Political corruption
Financial crimes
Religious power structures
International money laundering
Government oversight failures
The growing popularity of these stories reflects public fascination with how large-scale schemes operate behind the scenes and how individuals exploit institutional weaknesses for enormous profit.
The Rise of Investigative True Crime Podcasts
Podcasts centered on investigative journalism have become one of the fastest-growing segments in digital media.
Unlike traditional news reporting, serialized podcasts allow journalists to spend hours unpacking complicated narratives, introducing listeners to evidence, interviews, and competing perspectives over multiple episodes.
This format has transformed public engagement with criminal investigations.
Major podcast hits over the past decade have demonstrated that audiences are eager for long-form storytelling that blends journalism with cinematic production quality.
Industry analysts believe podcasts like Kingdom of Fraud continue this trend by offering both entertainment and investigative depth.
Michele McPhee’s Investigative Approach
Michele McPhee brings extensive experience to the project.
Known for covering organized crime and law enforcement issues, McPhee has built a reputation for tackling complicated stories involving corruption and criminal enterprises.
Her reporting style often combines factual investigation with narrative-driven storytelling, making complex cases more accessible to wider audiences.
In interviews promoting the podcast, producers highlighted McPhee’s ability to connect legal documents, witness accounts, and financial evidence into a cohesive story arc.
A Story of Power, Money, and Influence
Beyond the legal allegations, the podcast appears to examine deeper themes involving ambition, influence, and the pursuit of wealth.
The series reportedly explores how individuals from vastly different backgrounds formed a partnership that allegedly generated extraordinary profits through fraudulent means.
It also raises questions about:
How financial crimes evolve
The role of personal loyalty in criminal enterprises
The intersection of religion and business
Vulnerabilities in government systems
The global reach of white-collar crime
These broader themes may help explain why the story has attracted attention beyond traditional true crime audiences.
Podcast Industry Continues Expanding
The launch of Kingdom of Fraud also reflects the continued expansion of the podcasting industry.
Streaming platforms and podcast publishers have increasingly invested in investigative content due to rising listener demand.
Companies like iHeartPodcasts have significantly expanded their nonfiction storytelling divisions, focusing on crime, politics, business scandals, and celebrity investigations.
Industry experts say investigative podcasts often generate strong audience retention because serialized storytelling encourages listeners to return weekly for new developments.
Weekly Release Schedule Announced
The podcast will follow a weekly release structure, with new episodes arriving every Monday beginning May 12.
This episodic rollout strategy has become common among high-profile investigative podcasts, helping maintain audience engagement and social media discussion over several weeks.
The trailer, which is already available online, teases dramatic revelations, hidden networks, and allegations involving powerful figures connected to the case.
Social Media Buzz Builds Ahead of Launch
Following the release of its trailer, Kingdom of Fraud has started gaining traction across podcast communities and social media platforms.
Listeners interested in fraud investigations, organized crime stories, and government corruption narratives have expressed anticipation for the series.
Online discussions have particularly focused on:
The scale of the alleged fraud
The religious background connected to the story
Claims involving federal protection
The international money trail
Michele McPhee’s investigative reputation
Industry observers believe the combination of financial crime and alleged political influence could make the series one of the more talked-about podcast launches of the season.
Why Financial Crime Stories Captivate Audiences
White-collar crime stories continue to attract major public interest because they often involve staggering amounts of money, hidden manipulation, and dramatic downfalls.
Unlike conventional crime narratives, financial fraud cases reveal how individuals can exploit trust, bureaucracy, and systemic loopholes.
Stories like the one explored in Kingdom of Fraud also resonate because they expose the human consequences of corruption and the broader impact on taxpayers, industries, and public institutions.
The Broader Impact of Biofuel Fraud
The alleged biofuel subsidy fraud examined in the podcast also highlights concerns about oversight within renewable energy programs.
Governments worldwide have increasingly relied on subsidies and incentives to encourage cleaner energy production. However, large financial programs can become targets for abuse if monitoring systems fail.
Experts say fraud cases involving environmental incentives can undermine public trust in legitimate renewable energy initiatives.
The podcast reportedly examines how regulators and investigators eventually uncovered irregularities tied to the operation.
Could ‘Kingdom of Fraud’ Become the Next Big Podcast Hit?
With its combination of organized crime allegations, luxury lifestyles, political intrigue, and investigative reporting, Kingdom of Fraud has many of the ingredients associated with successful true crime podcasts.
Industry analysts suggest the series could attract audiences interested in:
Financial scandals
Organized crime
Investigative journalism
Government corruption
Religious power dynamics
Corporate fraud
If early interest surrounding the trailer is any indication, the series may quickly become a major talking point within the true crime podcast community.
Final Thoughts
The upcoming release of Kingdom of Fraud promises an in-depth look at a sprawling alleged fraud operation that investigators claim exploited the American biofuel industry for massive financial gain.
Through the reporting of Michele McPhee, listeners will follow a story involving power, secrecy, alleged corruption, and international financial networks stretching far beyond Utah.
As audiences continue gravitating toward investigative storytelling and white-collar crime narratives, the series arrives at a moment when public appetite for deep-dive journalism remains stronger than ever.
With weekly episodes set to roll out beginning May 12, the podcast could emerge as one of the year’s most talked-about investigative audio releases.
