Pastor Accused of Defrauding Church Members of $13 Million
Federal prosecutors allege a Washington pastor used religious appeals to solicit millions from congregants for a fraudulent startup, calling them 'demons' when questioned.
A pastor from the ‘Passion for Christ’ congregation in Kirkland, Washington, has been indicted on charges of defrauding church members out of $13 million. Cristian Popescu, 46, allegedly lured approximately 30 investors into a fictitious company called Followone, Inc., by claiming divine selection for those who would fund his business.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Popescu falsely represented Followone, Inc., a Bellevue-based startup, as an e-commerce giant and social network with millions in revenue, a soaring stock value, and an impending Nasdaq initial public offering. Prosecutors stated the company was merely a collection of non-functional screens.
Federal investigators allege that Popescu fabricated the company's success to solicit investments, with some individuals investing nearly $1 million, while others contributed sums around $600,000 and $500,000. He reportedly encouraged victims to withdraw funds from retirement and college savings accounts for investment purposes. At one point, Popescu claimed Followone Inc. was valued at $1.4 billion, despite having little to no worth.
Prosecutors also detailed that Popescu used shell companies to create a facade of business activity, channeling investor money through fake invoices to these entities, which he controlled, for his personal gain. An estimated $4.5 million was allegedly funneled directly into accounts held by Popescu, his wife, and other family members. Between 2017 and 2024, he reportedly paid himself over $1 million in wages. His wife was also placed on the company payroll for approximately $300,000, despite never working for the company.
When investors began questioning the whereabouts of their money and demanding returns, Popescu allegedly responded by calling them "demonically possessed."
Popescu faces ten counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. He was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Seattle and subsequently released on electronic monitoring. He faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years for wire fraud and 10 years for money laundering, along with a $250,000 fine. The trial is scheduled for December 21.
