A Dallas pastor has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted of stealing property from three churches using fake titles.
According to a news release from Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot, a jury found Whitney Foster, 56, guilty of theft of property worth $300,000 or more
According to officials, the stolen properties totaled more than $800,000.
The district attorney’s office said he stole church structures and land by submitting false deeds with bogus leadership from the victim churches as grantors and his church as grantee.
According to investigators, Foster stole from the First Christian Church of Lancaster as well as two churches in Dallas: Canada Drive Christian Church and Church at Nineveh.
According to Creuzot, the defendant or his church is still listed as the owner of two homes, and his congregation has been meeting at one of them.
The third church property remains embroiled in legal complications caused by Foster’s actions, according to the news releas.
Prosecutors then presented the jury with evidence of seven other false acts.
What they’re saying
“Stealing real estate is an incredibly serious and damaging crime,” Creuzot stated.
“It is worse than stealing someone’s car or other belongings. When someone takes goods, we must hold them accountable because they are harming others.” Foster was the pastor of a small group that lacked a physical gathering space.
Why this matters?
A religious leader who should be a pillar of the community abused his position for personal gain.
It emphasizes the importance of programs like deed fraud alerts that can help homeowners and institutions safeguard their property.
Bottom Line
Homeowners in several Texas counties can sign up for a deed fraud alert programme, which will send an email notification whenever a document is filed on their property.
