A federal indictment charges a Maryland minister with hiding millions of dollars in assets when he filed for bankruptcy protection from his creditors.
Robert Freeman, aka Dr. Shine, has founded several churches, including Save the Seed Ministry, Save the Seed International Church and Seed Faith International Church.
At church offices located in Waldorf, Md., a TV production truck with “Dr. Shine and Dee Dee Ministries” on the side was parked outside, but no one would comment on the indictment.
The indictment charges Freeman and church volunteer Jeffrey Mont with obstruction of official proceedings, making false statements in bankruptcy proceedings and providing false records.
Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney for Maryland, said Freeman used millions of dollars in church funds for his own benefit, and hid the assets when he filed for bankruptcy to discharge his debts in 2005.
"He defrauded his creditors when in fact he had plenty of assets," Rosenstein said.
Freeman lives in a gated mansion in Potomac Heights. The indictment says Freeman purchased the $1.75 million residence on the banks of the Potomac River in the name of a church member.
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If convicted, Freeman could face a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison. If Mont is convicted of obstruction of justice he could get up to 20 years.