The senior pastor of the Victorious Life Church in Alexandria is charged in a scheme to defraud members of his congregation. An indictment unsealed today alleges he and his wife used money for the poor to enrich themselves. Derrick Ward reports.
What to Know
- The defendants operated a company that claimed to help poor people in developing countries, prosecutors said.
- They are accused of using investors' money for personal reasons, including payments toward a $1.75 million house.
- The senior pastor of Victorious Life Church in Alexandria and his wife were convicted in December 2017.
A Northern Virginia pastor has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a $2 million fraud scheme that victimized members of his congregation and other clergymen.
A jury convicted 54-year-old Terry Millender, the former senior pastor of Victorious Life Church in Alexandria, on multiple fraud counts in a 2017 trial. A jury also convicted his wife, Brenda Millender, on some counts and acquitted her on others before a judge vacated all counts against her.
According to court records, Terry Millender recruited investors by saying he would use Nigerian oil deals to finance micro-loans to African entrepreneurs that would provide a high rate of return.
In reality, he used the money to conduct high-risk day trades and finance the purchase of a $1.75 million home.
