A pastor was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the theft of three churches, collectively at a value over $800,000. Authorities said he led a small congregation without a physical worship space while conducting the scheme.
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Pastor Whitney Foster,56, conducted the scheme by fraudulently filing property deeds, listing either a fictitious pastor or a non-existent church official as part of the transactions. He then transferred ownership of the properties to his name, designating his church, the True Foundation nondenominational church, as the grantee. This affected properties such as the First Christian Church in Lancaster, Texas, Canada Drive Christian Church, and Church at Ninevah, with two of the three still listed under Foster’s name despite the conviction, WFLA reported.
Dallas County prosecutors said Foster’s congregation currently occupies one of the stolen properties, while another remains tangled in legal issues due to his fraudulent actions. “Stealing real estate is an incredibly serious and damaging crime. It’s worse than the theft of someone’s vehicle or other possessions. When someone steals property, we must hold them accountable because they are hurting people,” said Dallas County criminal district attorney John Creuzot.
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The trial revealed evidence of seven additional fraudulent acts beyond the three main charges. In one particular instance, the pastor of Lancaster church discovered that their congregation no longer owned their building after it had been deeded away for $10. The transaction was conducted by someone posing as the church chairman, transferring the $700,000 property to a non-church member.
“Property ownership is a bedrock of our society – it provides security, a home, a place to love and welcome each other. It also represents a very active part of our economy, both in terms of buying, selling, and renting property, as well as property taxes that support everything our government does for the citizens of Dallas County.” said Dallas County prosecutor Phillip Clark
