Pastor of Kirkland Church Indicted for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering in Connection with $13M Scheme
Prosecutors say he used fake marketing, shell companies and church ties to lure more than 30 investors into a nonfunctional platform.
- On Tuesday, Kirkland pastor Cristian Popescu was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Seattle on charges of wire fraud and money laundering linked to an alleged $13 million investment scheme.
- Prosecutors allege Popescu used his position at Passion for Christ Church to recruit investors for Followone, Inc., a Bellevue company he falsely marketed as a functioning global marketplace using 'lies and deception.'
- More than $4.5 million of investor funds were transferred to personal and family accounts while Popescu falsely claimed Followone was worth $1.4 billion and nearing a Nasdaq listing.
- When investors demanded refunds, Popescu allegedly became irate and called them 'demonically possessed'; he pleaded not guilty and remains released on electronic monitoring while awaiting trial.
- The FBI and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation led the case, which carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison if Popescu is convicted on all counts; trial is set for December 21, 2026.
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Pastor allegedly swindled flock out of $13M, branded victims ‘demonically possessed’ when they demanded money back
The "Passion for Christ" pastor allegedly tricked 30 investors out of millions by lying about his fake startup's revenue and upcoming Nasdaq IPO.
Pentecostal Pastor Charged With $13M Fraud Scheme
Seattle’s ABC affiliate reports: A Kirkland pastor accused of using his position to lure church members into a multimillion-dollar investment scheme pleaded not guilty in federal court in Seattle, where prosecutors allege he carried out a $13 million fraud. Cristian Popescu, 46, of Bothell, was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Seattle on an indictment … The post Pentecostal Pastor Charged With $13M Fraud Scheme appeared first on Joe.My.God..
Pastor allegedly bilked $13M from parishioners then called them demon-possessed for asking about money
A Washington pastor accused of establishing a fake internet company and convincing his parishioners and others to invest more than $13 million into it has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering after he dismissed them as demon-possessed when they demanded the return of their money.
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