Kirbyjon Caldwell, the former pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, pled guilty to fraud in March 2020. Gregory Alan Smith helped Kirbyjon Caldwell deceived investors out of millions of dollars. He and Smith defrauded investors into buying Chinese bonds that were really worthless.
Caldwell and Smith raised 3.5 million from the scheme, while investors received nothing in return. Pastor Caldwell used his status and influence to con investors out of their money. Caldwell and Smith will serve a six year prison sentence starting in June 2021. He was also ordered to pay $125,000 fine and $3,588,500 restitution, which he already paid. After his sentence, he will still be on supervised release for one year. – Blacknews.com
People Lost Millions of Dollars
Another preacher used his influence back in the summer of 2014. Bishop Eddie Long introduced his members to Ephren Taylor. Ephren Taylor was a Kansas city man, who scammed investors at New Birth out of millions of dollars, as well. The US Securities and Exchange Commission accused Taylor of running a ponzi scheme using new investors money to pay back older investors. Many of these loyal members believed in Bishop Eddie Long’s judgement. Bishop long, now deceased, introduced investors to Ephren and his team. Long lead his sheep into a lions den. He is partly responsible for the slaughter. Investors lost millions in the scheme.
Investigators with the U.S. Secret Service and the IRS accused Taylor and co-conspirator Wendy Conner, the former COO of City Capital Corp., of swindling 80 investors in Georgia, including members of New Birth in Lithonia, out of at least $2 million during Taylor’s “Building Wealth Tour,” which allegedly targeted church congregations from April 2009 through October 2010. New Birth and Bishop Eddie Long weren’t the only mega churches impacted. Members of Joel Osteen’s Houston-based Lakewood Church also invested with Taylor. – Atlantadailyworld
“Mr. Taylor came into our community, promising hard-working citizens a way to make their retirement money go farther,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.”
Why Are Pastors Taking Advantage of People
There are so many devils in the pulpit misleading the people, that it’s crazy. Why are pastors taking advantage of their members? Probably because they can. This type of fraud and theft has been going on for decades, but not every pastor, or their affiliates get indicted for fraud.
The church is being used as a place to influence people to part with their hard earned money. When you couple that with a lack of education and influence you have a recipe for a scam. People want to believe everyone is a good human being, to some degree.
These devils in the pulpit were not good folks and chose to take advantage of the people. When it comes to your money not everyone has your best interest at heart.
Becareful all sheep don’t wear wool clothing!
