Terry Millender, Pastor, Indicted in $1.2M Church Fraud

LEXANDRIA, Va. — A prominent local pastor and his wife are behind bars, accused of looting $1.2 million from their own flock through a rigged investment scheme disguised as Christian charity. Terry Wayne Millender, 52, and Brenda Millender, 56, both of Alexandria, Virginia, were arrested yesterday and formally charged alongside associate Grenetta Wells, 55, also of Alexandria, in a sweeping fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

The indictment, returned October 20 by a federal grand jury and unsealed today following Wells’ arrest, alleges the trio operated a shell company called Micro-Enterprise Management Group (MEMG). Marketed as a God-driven mission to fund small loans for the impoverished in developing nations, MEMG promised investors safety, high returns, and divine purpose. But prosecutors say it was a lie from the start — a front for personal enrichment and high-risk speculation.

Terry Millender served as CEO of MEMG, Brenda Millender was a founding member, and Wells acted as chief operating officer. Together, they pitched the scheme to members of Victorious Life Church, where Terry served as senior pastor, leveraging faith to sell guaranteed profits and secure trust. The indictment states they assured investors their principal was safe and backed by company assets — claims federal authorities now call fraudulent.

In reality, the money vanished into risky foreign exchange trading, options markets, and the Millenders’ lifestyle. A $1.75 million home purchase for Terry and Brenda Millender was funded with investor cash, along with a stream of personal expenses. When payouts stalled, the defendants allegedly lied, blaming the 2008 financial crisis and falsely promising repayments to keep the scam alive.

The three face a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted on each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The charges carry the full weight of federal law, with sentencing determined by the court using advisory guidelines and statutory factors. No plea has been entered.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine L. Wong. Announcements were made by Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Thomas Jankowski, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation; and Terrence P. McKeown, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Court documents are available under Case No. 1:16-cr-239 in the Eastern District of Virginia’s federal docket.