A high-profile Dallas pastor has been busted in a massive embezzlement scheme that saw him swindle over $3.6 million from his own church.
Ruel M. Hamilton, 52, of Dallas, was arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as well as multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering.
According to court documents, Hamilton used his position as the senior pastor of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship to embezzle funds from the church’s accounts, using the money to finance lavish lifestyle expenses, including a $1.4 million mansion and a $250,000 vacation home.
The scheme allegedly dated back to 2014, with Hamilton using a complex web of shell companies and fake invoices to conceal his illicit activity.
The investigation was led by the FBI and involved multiple agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Texas Department of Insurance.
The indictment alleges that Hamilton conspired with at least one other individual, Carolyn Rena Davis, to commit the crimes. Jeremy Scroggins, a former church employee, has also been implicated in the scheme.
Hamilton’s attorneys, Scottie D. Allen and Kaitlin Pierce Marino, did not respond to requests for comment.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad E. Meacham and Marcus J. Busch handling the case.
Hamilton is scheduled to appear in federal court on April 15 for a preliminary hearing.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Federal Court
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source â†â€â€ÂÂ
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