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Terry Millender, pastor of Victorious Life Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and his wife Brenda, were convicted Monday of a “$2 million fraud scheme that stole from members of their congregation and investors.”
A former pastor and his wife were convicted of a $2 million fraud scheme that stole from members of their congregation and investors.
Terry Wayne Millender, 53, and Brenda Millender, 57, were convicted by a federal jury Monday and could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, according to the United States Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Terry Millender is the former senior pastor of Victorious Life Church in Alexandria.
Prosecutors said the couple operated a company called Micro-Enterprise Management Group, a Virginia company that alleged to help poor people in developing countries by providing small, short-term loans by working with a network of established micro-finance institutions.They recruited investors by emphasizing its Christian mission while promising guaranteed returns.
However, the jury found the Millenders used the money to make risky trades on the foreign exchange currency market, options trading, and payments toward the purchase of a $1.75 million home and other personal expenses.
When investors sought their returns, the Millenders blamed delays in repayment, in part, on the 2008 financial crisis, according to the complaint.
After the first scheme failed, prosecutors said they created another company Kingdom Commodities Unlimited, which they alleged specialized in the brokering of Nigerian oil deals. They were able to get more than $600,000 from investors and used the money to pay for rent, golf trips, a birthday party and other personal expenses.
The two will be sentenced on March 30, 2018.
A co-conspirator, Grenetta Wells, 56, of Alexandria, who served as chief operating officer at MEMG, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 12, 2018.
Millender’s bio on the It’s Time to Produce website (no longer active) states:
Pastor Terry Wayne Millender has been involved in Christian ministry for more than 27 years. He currently serves as Senior Pastor of Victorious Life Church located in Alexandria, VA.
As a Nationally recognized leader, author, radio and television show host of Victorious Life Today, he is sought after to conduct major conferences, in addition to equipping individuals through Citywide Prayer School and “It’s Time To Produce” Personal Growth Summits. Additionally, his international Pastoral equipping sessions have taken him to many nations around the globe.
A graduate of the International Bible Institute and Seminary and Hope Bible College, Pastor Terry is the founder of the Washington,D.C., based Power Unleashed Worldwide, Inc., an international missions and training organization established to help believers unleash the power and potential within them through Jesus Christ. His blockbuster new book, “IT’S TIME TO PRODUCE — Unleashing the Winner Within” is changing lives around the globe.
Pastor Terry is also the Chairman and CEO of Kingdom Commodities Unlimited, LLC and Millender Media & Communications Corp, LLC both based in Alexandria, VA.
He is committed to his family and has been happily married for 29 years to his wife Brenda. They have five children and six grand children. They currently reside in Alexandria, VA.
I’ve become suspicious of all charities, whether it’s the Salvation Army, a Walk for Diabetes, cancer, etc. I always wonder what they actually do with all that money. I’m not a trusting person in that regard. I always wonder if actual cancer patients receive any benefit from it, or if actual veterans receive any benefit.
The American Diabetes Association, Cancer Society, etc, etc.-they all seem more like big businesses-I mean, what would they do if the problem was actually solved?
I just can’t imagine giving to any of these big charities. I’d like to give to some charity-I just don’t know who to trust.
I gave to that organization that gives cows to people to help them become independent. It seemed pretty good-but how do I know what actually happens?
And the breast cancer thing-what do they actually do besides inundate society with pink ribbons? Football players wearing pink socks, etc. It all seems so contrived and artificial and silly.
Yes, I’ve become very cynical about charities. My friend who volunteers in a charity shop informs me they take every donation, obviously, but throw away a lot of items automatically – soft toys for example. So, we discovered that a local homeless hostel takes men’s clothes and a women’s refuge that takes women’s and kids clothes, household items and toys and will say if they don’t want an item we are offering. Instead of filling shoeboxes for the odious Samaritan’s Purse, we now give to a friend who takes gifts to Rumania that poverty-stricken villagers actually need, like toiletries, underwear and warm hats etc. I never give to big charities now. I know cancer research, for example, is vital, but there seem to be plenty of other folk who support it and always will be.
I’m on an opinion-roll lately. You know what else turns me off? Pictures of very well-dressed couples hugging and trying to sell me something. The couple above, Joel Osteen and his wife-all the fabulous Christian couples pictured with their perfect hair and make-up, dazzling smiles. lol It has an effect opposite of what they intend.
“Prosperity Gospel” shown for what it really is – giving money to people who ask in the name of religion so they can line their own pockets. My great-grandmother used to watch her “preaching shows” – Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker and the like – and I always felt like these people were just taking money and using it to buy cars, homes, fancy clothes, etc. I mean, how much money must have been necessary to pay for Tammy Faye Bakker’s makeup alone?