A California judge ordered a clergyman and a co-defendant to pay back $28 million to victims of an investment scam.
Pastor Robert Jennings, 59, Perris, Calif., was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the Ponzi scheme in which victims were corralled in conference calls that stressed that proposed deals were “God’s Will.”
Jennings represented himself as the president of a coal company during regular conference calls with his “investors” and led them in group prayers.
They also took money for what they called a secret sale of 20,000 tons of gold between Israel and the United Arab Emirates…There were group prayers and a claim the gold transaction was divinely inspired during the groups’ calls to investors.
There is no patch for gullibility, either.
One could structure an argument regarding these activities being protected under “Freedom of Religion” and when that FAILS (hopefully?) then move the same argument to other frauds and violations of law by the bible types and see when and for what reasons the argument begins to win.
What makes that dividing line?
But wait, this pastor has *faith* in his God. I thought that was enough to prove one’s goodness?
Yes, the Lord’s work IS mighty lucrative.
Its amazing what money will do to people
What a lack of any morality when it comes to cold hard cash
Was it a business or did they just get carried away with all the wealth and good intentions
Remind me a of a friend who just happened to chance on a Jimmy Swaggart event
When the hat went around the fellow dropped a good chunk of wealth into the hat
When asked by his spouse his answer was – Where else for this amount of money can you get a show and a production of this caliber and cost
What this guy was really convicted of is stealing the federal government’s idea of taking people’s money and fraudulently promising social security checks.
All “Religion” is a SCAM !!!
Lock them all up !!!
Send them to GITMO and force them to “Confess” !!!
I thought it was just little boys but I guess a man of the cloth can fuck anybody.
# 5 Ivor Biggun said, “What this guy was really convicted of is stealing the federal government’s idea of taking people’s money and fraudulently promising social security checks.”
Yep, they jail every member of congress who ever voted to steal from the fund…
Hey, as long as he was telling the suckers that it was “God’s Will” and they accepted the argument, I’d let the guy off scott free.
It’s no worse than the ordinary frauds that religion engages in daily. If you believe in “God” how do you know that this scam wasn’t “God’s Will”. In fact, if indeed the G man is “all powerful all knowing” then EVERYTHING that happens on the planet is His will. :).
Better than charging Jennings, they should put each of those who fell for it in for a 72 hour mental evaluation. I mean, do we really want people THAT stupid walking the streets? Driving cars? Flying aircraft? Hummmm?
# 3 John E. Quantum said, Yes, the Lord’s work IS mighty lucrative.
99% of those in “the Lord’s work” could be making much more cash in other lines of work. Myself included.
Truly, as sad story. However, how many people are taken for a ride by regular “investment counsellors” or “brokers”?
“PTL MINISTRIES” = PASS THE LOOT, SCREW THE MINISTRIES !!!
The good lord giveth and the good lord taketh away.
# 8 Paddy-O said,
“Yep, they jail every member of congress who ever voted to steal from the fund…”
That’s a great idea, Paddy! I’m all for it!
They ought to apply this same statute to the CEOs of Standard & Poors, and Moody Investments. It was these guys whose companys gave all the shakiest mortgage DCOs the AAA ratings. And now Congress is all over their case, for them not rating these instruments more accurately. And instead inflating their worth to appease their clients, not the protecting the investing public.
IOW, it’s Enron and their accountants, all over again. There financial fiascos are happening more frequently, and in more areas of investment. When in the hell are these finance cops going to earn their damn position, and stop skipping out with huge pensions and no accountability? All that ever seems to happen is Henry Waxman gets to get a bit more incensed every year. Or at least he pretends to. Get ought to be numb to it by now.
I mean, what, is he asleep to all the lobbying these clowns have done to get the federal watchdogs and regulators off of their backs? So they could pull off all these shaky mortgage deals? They should mint a truck load of golden trophies to give to the congressmen and senators who act the most convincingly outraged at their benefactors’ criminal acts.