HOUSTON, TX – A so-called “Christian” investment group is facing federal charges after allegedly ripping off a 92-year-old World War II veteran out of $300,000. The Department of Justice announced the arrests of five individuals connected to Ternion Group International LLC, accusing them of running a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting vulnerable seniors.
Lenel Hopkins, 52, Antoinette Monique Hopkins, 42, Alichia Webster, 60, Neil John Halvorson, 65, and Victor Evans Jr., 70, are all in custody, apprehended in Alabama and Florida. They are slated to appear in court there before being extradited to Houston for arraignment. All five, along with Ternion Group International LLC aka Ternion Training and Education Center Corporation, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each count.
According to the indictment, Ternion presented itself as an international investment group focused on construction projects and job training “for believers.” They lured investors with promises of substantial returns and ownership in local development projects, demanding large upfront investment deposits. The scheme involved establishing “hubs” – essentially using investors’ addresses as physical locations for Ternion – and then pocketing the money without delivering on any promised returns. The victim, a decorated WWII veteran, was convinced to become one of these hubs.
Prosecutors allege Ternion owners specifically targeted the 92-year-old veteran, convincing him to invest $300,000 with the promise of a $13 million payout. The money, taken from his retirement account, was supposedly earmarked for building a vocational school and purchasing 100 homes. The indictment reveals that Victor Evans Jr. was allegedly drawing a salary directly from the stolen funds. The betrayal doesn’t stop there. Neil Halvorson is accused of manipulating the veteran into changing his will, granting Evans successor rights and power of attorney over his property, bank accounts, and contracts – and even executing a do-not-resuscitate order.
Since 2020, the victim has received nothing for his investment and hasn’t heard from anyone associated with Ternion. Investigators discovered the land Ternion claimed would be the site of the vocational school is privately owned and not for sale, further exposing the fraudulent nature of the operation. The FBI spearheaded the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman leading the prosecution. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, a program dedicated to combating elder abuse and financial exploitation.
An indictment is a formal accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process of law. But the evidence, as laid out by federal prosecutors, paints a damning picture of calculated greed preying on the trust of a man who served his country. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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