Jeri Wright finally sentenced for fraud

I’ve followed this case since it hit the press two years ago. Jeri Lynne Wright, the daughter of President Barack Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, was sentenced to two years in prison for money laundering and lying to federal investigators and a grand jury. I kept asking myself, why is this story so important? Why is this story national news? The obvious answer is the link to our president. I’m in it for something else. I’m in it for the stink of Christian hypocrisy.

The story is about religion people running a religious charity while enriching themselves at the public trough. It’s about lying, cheating and stealing. It’s about breaking the basic promise of Christianity. It’s about hypocrisy and its beautiful in a way.

Wright was the last player in this drama to go to trial. The major players were already convicted and in prison. She never really had a chance, even though she denies doing anything wrong. The case was irrefutable. She took money for work that she never did and then lied about it. It really is a simple case and her lies and denials point towards deeper problems.

Her character witnesses were two pastors, her sister and a her daughter. All were shocked that such a good Christian would do such a thing. The defense claimed she has a personality disorder and insists that she lives in a state of denial.

Her crimes started with accepting funds and then came the lies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Bass said Regina Evans, who was sentenced to five years in prison after she pleaded guilty, was the mastermind of the scheme to siphon more than $900,000 from a $1.25 million state grant intended to fund job training. Ronald Evans Jr. was sentenced to one year and McCoy to six months in prison and six months home confinement for their actions.
- via NBC Chicago

Wright, a minor player in the scheme, accepted funds from We Are Our Brother’s Keeper, a christian charity owned by Regina Evans and her husband Ronald Evans Jr. The funds came from an education grant issued by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and targeted for retraining within the local community. Wright accepted the funds, but she never did any work. In fact, We Are Our Brother’s Keeper was a scam setup to enrich the Christians who ran it, along with “good Christian” Jeri Wright, who took her piece of the action because she could.

Christianity and religion are wrapped around this scam like a cloak meant to obscure a thief. The case is Christian hypocrisy at its finest and I would have never learned of it if not for the link to Write’s infamous father and his link to our President.

Fogle says the FBI has nothing on me

If I’ve learned one thing about following crime stories where the FBI and child pornography are involved, it is that the FBI moves slowly and cautiously. Which is why I think that Team Fogle’s assertion that the FBI found nothing in its search of Jared Fogle’s house is premature. It’s a forensic investigation, therefor, it will take some time; perhaps weeks or even months. Let’s wait to see what happens.

Fogle's legal team tells us there's a very good reason we didn't see the feds marching the ex-Subway spokesman out of his Indiana home this week. They say they're confident the FBI raid turned up nothing that incriminates Fogle.
- via http://www.tmz.com

In cases like this, I hope for the best. In this case, I hope they find no evidence. I hope that Jared Fogle committed no crime and I hope the he is not a creepy pedophile. I’m a skeptic and want to see evidence before I come form an opinion about his guilt or innocence.

In other bad Fogle news, his cameo has been cut from Sharknado 3. I’m personally devastated by the news. Wait… what is Sharknado again?

Jozef Wesolowski’s trail postponed

There was drama and intrigue today in the trail of Jozef Wesolowski, the Pope’s ex-diplomat on trail for child porn and pedophilia, trail was delayed do to illness.

A former papal ambassador accused of sexually abusing minors has been hospitalized in an intensive care unit -- pushing back his trial once set to start Saturday in Vatican City.

Jozef Wesolowski, 66, was under house arrest in Vatican City when he fell sick Friday night and was rushed to a public hospital.
- via CNN

Is it wrong for me to want this man to be well enough to stand trial, be convicted and then live out his possible nine-year prison sentence before he dies the day before he tastes freedom?

Jared Fogle’s creep factor moves up

Jared Fogle said something, that if true, moves him from a five to six on my creep factor scale.

"He said something to me when we were off camera and that really stuck with me. I thought to myself, 'did he really say that to me?'"

According to the woman, Jared would often visit schools in Sarasota County, and allegedly told her numerous times that, "Middle school girls are hot."
- via Sarasota News | Mysuncoast.com and ABC 7

Fogle was not on my radar until his best friend was arrested for creating child porn. I put him at a two then. Finding out that Fogle was allegedly running a porn rental business while in college pushed his rating to a four. Having his house searched by the FBI for links to child porn moved him to a five. Now, with this quote and its verified link to the FBI investigation, he’s sitting at a six. He’ll hit a seven with an arrest.

I’ll publish the full scale soon.

Link to Jared Fogle investigated for child porn.

Chronicles of Hypocrisy #8

I like to do these articles when I’ve collected at least five cases. It started this morning with one case, that of youth pastor Cameron Patterson, the others fell into place quickly.

Rev. Kenneth Chatmon was arrested for trespassing at his own church. His church had dismissed him after they learned of a previous arrested for stealing copper and then questioned his qualifications as a pastor. Chatmon was briefly the pastor at Greater Greenhill Baptist Church No 2, in Marshall, Tx.

HIV positive Pastor George Ferguson pleaded no-contest to lewd behavior in a case linked to the sexual abuse of a mentally challenged minor. The original charges included first degree kidnapping and attempting to transmit the AIDS virus. The reduced charges remove the sexual abuse allegation, which is a travesty. What are thinking? Ferguson is the pastor of Freedom of Praise Ministries in Pahrump, Nevada.

Baptist youth pastor Cameron Patterson, 26, was arrested on two counts of child molestation although one victim claims to have been abused hundreds of times. Peterson allegedly apologized to his victims by email. Peterson worked at Ballwin Baptist Church in Lake St. Louis, Mo. I should also note that Patterson’s case follows the typical youth pastor abuse pattern. A young youth pastor, typically 22 to 28 abuses a young girl or girls, age 13 to 15. The most common scenario is 28 and 14.

Pastor Everett Silver (warning, link to bio and bad music) was indicted embezzlement charges. Silver, who is a true “Renaissance man", is the pastor of Dunimus Outreach Ministries in Rocky Mount, NC.

Executive coordinator of The Potter’s House, Leroy Lowe, was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a child by one in a position of trust and sexual exploitation of a child and child enticement. Lowe allegedly abused a 17-year-old girl who was a member of the church. I love this line… the church cut his salary after leaning of abuse allegation. So, the message is that the church will not pay Lowe as much to abuse others? To be fair, they did ban him from the property and eventually fired him. The Potter’s House is located in Denver. Co.

Link to Chronicles of Hypocrisy #7

Sometimes I wake up and think, wtf?

The news this morning is horrifying.

A man killed seven people in New Jersey and Pennsylvania over a seven-week period during shooting rampages in which at least some victims may have been targeted at random, authorities said Thursday.
- via Yahoo News

Seven people were allegedly murdered at random by Todd West of Elizabeth, New Jersey. West bought his ammunition at Walmart, where one can be ammo as easy as buying candy.

Random murder in America is enabled by our gun culture. Here are more examples from the last week.

Carrie Jean Melvin was murdered while walking in Hollywood. Her assailant used a shotgun blast to the back of her head while she walked with her boyfriend near Sunset Boulevard. There are no suspects.

Last week, Kathryn Steinle was murdered at random while walking in on San Francisco’s Pier 14. Her assailant, Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez, allegedly used a rifle stolen from a federal agent. It’s a horrible story, but lets not forget the news crew that was pistol-whipped and robbed while covering the shooting.

In Florida, where anything is possible, two men executed a man and womanwhile their five children slept nearby.

Why do I read the news?

Chronicles of Hypocrisy #7

Today’s post is dedicated to Ghana, Africa, which is 69% Christian, with 24% of the Christian population identifying as Pentecostal or Charismatic. Apparently, the only requirement necessary to be a pastor, evangelist, bishop or prophet, is simply clicking your heals three times and shouting your desired title to the heavens. Becoming a pastor in Ghana, and much of Africa for the matter, is simply a means of making a living. Religion is big business. Abuses are rampant. Here are five cases.

Pastor Abraham Larbi was arrested for allegedly assaulting a female member of his church over a loan of 680 Cedi ($188) Larbi. The abuser used a stick to beat the victim. Larbi is the leader of God’s Kingdom Miracle Church in Oforikrom, Ghana.

Pastor Kofi Gidi was arrested for… well some weird stuff related to the possession of fake currency, voodoo spells, curses and counterfeiting. Gidi is a self-styled business man and pastor, which is a thing in Africa. Gidi was arrested in Amanfrom, Ghana.

Pastor Samuel Owusu was arrested for fraud after withdrawing 15,000 Cedis ($4,257) from the account of his driver. He used a voter ID card to impersonate his driver and withdraw the funds from a local bank. Owusu is a self-styled pastor from the district of Agona Asafo, Ghana.

Pastor Eric Isaiah Adusah was arrested for murder after his British wife, Charmain Adusa (Spiers) was found drowned in a hotel bathroom. Adusah had told hotel staff that his wife did not want to be disturbed, so her body was not discovered for three days. She was three months pregnant. Adusah is the leader of Tottenham-based Global Light Revival Ministries.

The arrest took place in Koforidua, Ghana. There were in country to attend a conference held by Bishop John Yaw Adu, who likes to chain mentally ill people together in prayer camps.

• Link to original story.
  
• Background on Charmain Adusa (Spiers)
• The Prophet is out on bail. 
• Fun fact - Adusah refers to himself as the Prophet Adusah. The title is self-proclaimed.
  

And finally, pastor Alhassan Ibrahim was arrested for publication of false news. He claimed to be the president of Armed Robber Association of Ghana, the proceeds of which were used to enrich himself. He also claimed to eat a pregnant woman’s heart in a voodoo ceremony and used dead infants for voodoo purposes, but don’t worry, he’s a Christian now so it’s all good. The arrest took place in Kumasi, Ghana.

Link to Chronicles of Hypocrisy #6

Social media bust for Baptist deacon

I don’t normally track church deacons, but I’ll make an exception in this case because of the social media angle. John Stone, a former deacon at Grandview Baptist Church in Grandview, Mo, attended a party here children were present. He had agreed to stay at least a 1,000 feet away from kids as a condition of his bond after an arrested for allegedly touching two little girls.

Prosecutors were not available Friday night to confirm exactly how Stone violated his bond, but the victims’ mother in this child molestation case pointed to a photo snapped a few weeks ago that appears to show Stone standing beside a little girl at his granddaughter’s graduation party.
- via fox4kc.com

Social media saved the day in this case. Stone will need to post $100k if he is to see freedom again before his trial.

When a man is caught molesting children, we must look deeper. Did Stone have access to kids and if the answer is yes, is there the possibility of more abuse cases?

“The church loved the man, he was here for many years. He was a deacon, he was a servant here in the church,” Pastor Michael Nelson said. “We are deeply saddened by what has happened. This is a tragedy on many different fronts.”

Nelson said Stone attended Grandview First Baptist Church for decades, and was a deacon who helped lead vacation bible school and bible study for kids.
- via fox4kc.com

We know that Stone had access to kids for decades. We must assume that there are hundreds of possible victims. I sure hope the police are looking into this.

Violence on a church bus

Lori Ann Utsler allegedly lost her shit on a church bus after attending services at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Muncie, Ind. Ulster allegedly attacked two adults and child with a plastic water bottle. Her motive… I’m not sure. I think the victims had simply asked her to sit quiet down because their one-month-old baby was sleeping. Utsler faces three charges of battery, one on a child.

I’m not sure how long the peace of Christ lasts after one attends church. One would think it offers some sense of serenity and peace; enough to get your through a short bus ride at least. In this case, the bus ride was all of ten minutes, so I don’t think the sermon and Christian fellowship worked.

I’m a big fan of judging people by what they do and not by what they believe or say. There is no scenario where a church lady beats on a child in a church bus that fits the description, morally superior (because I’m a Christian).

Great job Lori Ann Utsler, you’ve made it to my long list of hypocrites.

Jared Fogle investigated for child porn

This is not about religion but more about a violation of the public trust. As in, if can’t even trust that doofus sandwich guy, who can we trust?

Jared Fogle, famous for losing weight by eating Subway sandwiches, had his home raided by federal agents looking for child porn. Authorities had arrested Fogle’s associate Russell Taylor, the executive direct of The Jared Foundation, for child exploitation and possession of child pornography back in April. Taylor attempted suicide on May 6.

Fogle allegedly ran a pornography rental company out of his bedroom while attending Indiana University, and, at the same time he was on his now famous Subway diet. Fogle is alleged to have had an extensive porn library.

I wonder if Subway’s Black Card works in federal prison? D’oh!

Southern style theocracy

In a bid to start a movement, anti-gay North Carolina pastor Rit Varriale flies the Christian flag about the American flag at Elizabeth Baptist Church. I’m actually offended by this.

Chronicles of Hypocrisy #6

Chronicles of Hypocrisy #5 has at least one odd duck a few more cases of Catholic clergy sexual abuse.

Voodoo priest Brogenet Cinor, 48, was arrested for raping an 11-year-old girl. Cinor attempted to cleanse the evil that lived inside the girl. The police are looking for more victims. Cinor ran his business out of Sunrise, Fl.

• Conor’s arrest made the news in Nigeria.
  

Father Francisco Javier García Rodríguez was arrested in Mexico for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl. There were two alleged attacks while the priest was an overnight guest at the girls house. The arrest took place in the community of El Chante, in Autlán, Mexico.

Bishop Gonzalo Galván Castillo of Autlán resigned in disgraceover allegations that covered up child molestation allegations against Father Horacio López. Pope Francis accepted the resignation. López is the second priest to be arrested in Autlán for molesting children.

Father Christopher Howarth is on trail in the UK for preying on two young boys for his own sexual gratification. Howarth paid the boys with cash, games and mobile phone contracts.

Father Denis Heames was suspended for alleged boundary violations. There are no criminal charges at this time. Heames was a pastor working in the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw for the Central Michigan University’s St. Mary’s University Parish.

Father Colman McGrath, 76, pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault for crimes that occurred in the 1970s. He will not serve jail time. McGrath abused boys he was tutoring at a chapel in Langside, Glasgow.

The Society of Jesus settled a sexual abuse claim involving Father Donald O’Shaughnessy (1923 - 2013) who was a Jesuit priest in the Chicago area. The Society of Jesus paid $950k to settle the case. It’s second settlement for abuse involving O’Shaughnessy.

• Disclaimer - the link for this case looks like a PR piece for the lawyer.
  

More on Catholic clergy sexual abuse

The National Catholic Reporter has a series of articles related to brining clergy sex abuse secrets to light.

• Pages and protection: A first step in bringing clergy sex abuse secrets to light by Thomas C. Fox
  
• Thanks to NCR, my crisis became a cause by Barbara Blaine
  
• Timeline of a crisis by NCR Staff
• Conversation starters by Caitlin Hendel

Link to Chronicles of Hypocrisy #5

Chronicles of Hypocrisy #5

A few weeks ago I old a friend that I was behind on posting stories of hypocrisy. Five posts and 42 pastor later and I’m just now catching up.

Pastor Raymond Paul Buhrow, 64, charged with indecent assault, unlawful contract with a minor and corruption of a minor. The victims were 14 and 16 years old girls. Burrow was the pastor at Calvary Temple Holiness Church of Carlisle, Pa.

• Misstate pastor admitted fondling girl
  

The good pastor got confused about the meaning of the great gospel song "He Touched Me!”No doubt this will add fuel to the anti-Christian movement, and the New-Age Order of completely destroying America, and rewriting its history to fit the immorality sweeping the nation.
- via Nutball

Youth pastor Jeremy Mitchell was charged for having an inappropriate relationship with a young girl. Mitchell worked for Eastview Christian Church, Martinsville, Ind.

“He came and told us the situation and resigned.  We prayed for him and then notified the proper authorities and things have taken their course,” said Rick Miller, senior minister at Eastview Christian Church.
- via Fox 59

Pastor Venije Singkoh, 70, charged with three counts of child molestation has pleaded down to a misdemeanor count of false imprisonment. He was accused on kissing a 9-year-old girl while she sat on his lap. Singkoh practices his faith from his home in Daily City Ca. He does not have to register as a sex offender.

Bishop Alfred Drake stands accused of illegally selling his church for a fraction of its market value. Drake took $50k fee and a promise of a free apartment for the deal. The church is asking a judge to void the sale. Drake was defrocked by this church, The Holy Cross African Orthodox Church in Harlem, NY.

Rev. Jeremiah N. Murasso has been suspended because of accusations that he sexually abused a child. Criminal charges have not been filed. Morass was pastor at Blessed Sacrament and the Shrine of St. Anne in Waterbury, CT.

• SNAP Statement on Rev. Jeremiah Murasso
  

Pastor James Osborne and his wife Joyce Osborne, pleaded guilty to larceny for stealing $70k from Ghent Bible Baptist church in Ghent, Ny. The face seven years in prison.

Pastor Larry McKinley Clark want to move his child molestation trail out of Rockbridge County because his case has received too much publicity. Clark has already been convicted of sexual assault in another case and will serve 35 years in prison. Plus, there is another case with additional child molestation charges involving a 14 year old boy. Clark was the pastor at Pentecostal Outreach Church in Buena Vista, VA.

Comment on Baptist pastor Bill Wininger

In many ways I am haunted by posts. Stories of hypocrisy that I’ve written years ago keep producing comments and emails. Some of which are painful to read. With each communication, I’m taken back to the original story where I relive the depravity all over again. It hurts at times, especially when it involves the victims.

I posted on pastor Bill Wininger (IFB Baptist) in 2013 when he was originally accused of molesting a young girl at his church. I posted again in 2014 when he was accused of simple battery against a woman at his church. I even read his book.

A few weeks ago another victim sent in a comment. I think its important that her story be told.

I just found this blog/post/forum and can say without any shadow of doubt this man is guilty. How do I know? Because I am one of many women he TRIED to victimize. I am also one of the few who stepped up and told the truth to leaders. The result....I was asked to leave and remain silent, (sorry, cannot do that) made out to be a troublemaker, bitter divorcee, rebellious Christian, shunned and one of them called my place of business, wanting me dismissed for being vocal about the truths going on there. I don't need to read his book, or know anymore about him. I know far too much already and so do many others. I found out later, why all the silence. The worst part, is that those who DID know of the former allegations, CHOSE to allow this man to have unlimited access to anything or anyone in that school and church without any accountability to anyone. No one ever dared question his methods or his actions. Not even his own family. This man is guilty, but there is some responsibility held by those who stood by and did nothing until they blamed and fired teachers rather than try to help them as victims. They chose to see them as liabilities and get rid of them. As the Bible says, ..."be sure your sins will find you out."

Damn. Can you imagine an environment where if you speak out against leadership you are cut off and kicked out? Does that sound like a safe place to you? It does not sound like a safe place to me. In fact, it sounds like a place where bullies and misogynists feel right at home.

I never found out what happened to pastor Bill Wininger. There are no press reports of his conviction. If anyone knows what happened, please post it below.

To be fair, I should disclose that I classify Independent Fundamentalist Baptists (IBF) as a Christian cult. Read more here.

Chronicles of Hypocrisy #4

The Catholic edition….

Father Ysrael Bien was placed on leave after not reporting a hidden camera located in the mens room. He is under criminal investigation related to the incident. Bien was a priest at St. Francis Church in Sherwood, Oregon.

• SNAP Statement

Father James Rapp was charged with six additional counts of sexual misconduct. He was previously arraigned on 13 counts of the same charge for allegedly abusing two teen-age boys. He is already serving 40 years for another similar crime. Rapp was the priest at Lumen Christi High School, in Jackson, Maine.

• SNAP Press Release on a related lawsuit

Rev. Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang is suing the parents, police and a victim’s rights group (SNAP) after molestation charges were dropped early last month. Jiang claims his reputation was damaged. The victims are suing Jiang for damages. His archbishop has pulled his faculties. Jiang was part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Father William Casey, convicted of rape and criminal sexual misconduct four years ago and sentenced to 35 to 40 years in prison, is back in court with a request for a new trial. I’m thinking he his chances are low.

The Minnesota Supreme Court reinstated the conviction of Father Christopher Thomas Wenthe on one count of clergy third-degree sexual misconduct. Menthe has already served his sentence, but with this ruling must register as a sex offender. Wenthe worked as a priest in two Delano, Minnesota area Catholic churches.

• More on the origins of the case in a SNAP Press Release
  

Father Joseph Palanivel Jeyapaul was convicted of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl. He was sentenced to time served and deported to India. I’m sure the community feels cheated. Jeyapaul worked for the Catholic Diocese of Crookston in Minnesota.