Jeffrey N. Crossland, Defrauding Churches, New York 2023

Three Charged in Scheme to Defraud Churches and a Developer

Jeffrey N. Crossland, Raymond E. Robinson, and Stephen C. Parente were arrested on May 26, 2023 and charged with participating in a conspiracy to defraud four churches and a developer of over $3.5 million.

According to the indictment, Crossland, a managing member of Crossland Capital Partners, LLC, controlled JC Funding Group, while Parente controlled Eagle Capital Investment Partners, LP. Robinson, a minister, had an ownership interest in Eagle Capital and was responsible for finding clients.

The defendants allegedly perpetrated a scheme in which they induced clients to enter into loan agreements, depositing money into an escrow account. However, the money did not remain in the account, with over half being transferred to bank accounts controlled by an individual in Michigan, and much of that being transferred outside the United States.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated, 'These three defendants devised a complex scheme to provide unconventional construction loans to churches and other development projects. But instead of helping to build houses of worship, the defendants allegedly built a house-of-cards, Ponzi-like scheme.'

USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett added, 'This case highlights the fact that when money is involved scammers don't care where it comes from, even if it comes from parishioners at local churches.'

The defendants face up to 20 years in prison for their crimes.

Crossland was arrested at his home in Santa Monica, California, Robinson at his home in Leander, Texas, and Parente at his home in Buford, Georgia.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/three-charged-scheme-defraud-four-churches-and-developer