California

‘Despicable': Vallejo Pastor Gets 24-Year Sentence for Defrauding Congregants

A San Francisco Bay Area pastor who defrauded members of his congregation out of a million dollars in investments has been sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison.

In announcing the sentencing Friday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra called the case against Pastor Luther Feltus-Curry "despicable."

Feltus-Curry was convicted in February of felony theft and securities fraud.

Prosecutors said the 69-year-old pastor devised a fake investment scheme to bilk congregants at his Revival Center Ministries in Vallejo.

He and a co-conspirator, Alma Perez, created shell companies and promised their victims low risk and high returns.

Instead they used the money for personal expenses and get-rich-quick schemes, ultimately defrauding the victims of their whole investment.

The East Bay Times says Perez was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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