King Charles's Godson Close to Convicted Tax Evader Accused of Evading Millions in U.S Taxes

LONDON — A closer look at the financial dealings of Douglas Edelman, a former defense contractor convicted of tax evasion in a $350 million scheme, reveals an extensive web of connections to Lord Charles Tryon, a godson and financier close to King Charles III.

Corporate documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) show that Lord Tryon, 48, held positions at several companies linked to Edelman, including Satellite Support Services Limited and Aspen Wind Corporation. These entities are central to the U.S. indictment alleging Edelman's elaborate scheme to evade millions in taxes.

Prosecutors claim that Edelman used offshore companies to place assets in his French wife's name and avoid paying tax on billions of dollars worth of contracts he secured with the US military between 2003 and 2020. The charges represent one of the largest individual tax evasion schemes in American history, according to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Lord Tryon has denied any involvement in Edelman's alleged tax evasion scheme but has acknowledged working for companies linked to him for nearly a decade before splitting from Edelman in early 2009.

The ICIJ records show that Edelman invested in businesses launched by Tryon, including one in South Sudan until 2017. However, details of their activities on behalf of each other are not clear.

Aspen Wind was described as an "umbrella" organisation holding a range of Afghan-based businesses, with the internet services provider where Tryon served as CEO being owned exclusively by him.

Edelman's elaborate corporate network includes several companies linked to Tryon and even his wife. The godson has denied knowledge of these associations but insists they are unrelated.

The Edelman case is part of Operation Jetset — a joint investigation involving the British tax authority, US IRS, and other global partners — aimed at tackling international corruption.

A property purchased by Edelman was recently bought for £12m from disgraced media mogul Lord Conrad Black.