Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Pastor and wife found guilty in defrauding of friends, flock of millions of dollars
The Alexandria, Va., pastor told his parishioners they could benefit themselves while doing good if they invested in his Christian-based company lending small amounts of money to entrepreneurs in developing countries.
Instead, a jury in Alexandria federal court agreed that Terry Millender and his wife Brenda Millender, who together ran Victorious Life Church, defrauded their friends and flock out of millions of dollars. Terry Millender told investors they would make their money back with profit, all while fueling growth in developing countries. But that never happened. At trial, the pastor argued that he was guilty only of financial mismanagement, not fraud.
The pastor told jurors he could have made plenty of money, having run a successful restaurant recommendation business, but he was called to lead a church and a Christian-focused investment firm. To truly make a difference, he said, he needed to not just give what he could to charity but make enough money to give significantly.
“You can’t do good and be poor at the same time,” he testified. “You can’t help the poor and be poor, it makes no sense.” The Millenders, who were convicted Monday, both face up to 20 years in prison when they are sentenced in March.
Instead, a jury in Alexandria federal court agreed that Terry Millender and his wife Brenda Millender, who together ran Victorious Life Church, defrauded their friends and flock out of millions of dollars. Terry Millender told investors they would make their money back with profit, all while fueling growth in developing countries. But that never happened. At trial, the pastor argued that he was guilty only of financial mismanagement, not fraud.
The pastor told jurors he could have made plenty of money, having run a successful restaurant recommendation business, but he was called to lead a church and a Christian-focused investment firm. To truly make a difference, he said, he needed to not just give what he could to charity but make enough money to give significantly.
“You can’t do good and be poor at the same time,” he testified. “You can’t help the poor and be poor, it makes no sense.” The Millenders, who were convicted Monday, both face up to 20 years in prison when they are sentenced in March.
Whole article here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/pastor-and-wife-found-guilty-in-defrauding-of-friends-flock-of-millions-of-dollars/2017/12/19/29ae24e4-e410-11e7-833f-155031558ff4_story.html?utm_term=.180ccf946b51&wpisrc=nl_buzz&wpmm=1
10 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Spoken like a MAN OF GOD!!
He needed to make a little money on the side - God's work is hard
flocked 
