North Texas pastor Whitney Foster was found guilty of stealing property from three congregations, valued at over $300,000. Foster received a 35-year jail term and a $8,000 fine. The prosecution claimed Foster was the leader of the True Foundation Non-Denominational Church, which lacked a physical place of worship. At trial, the prosecution claimed Foster fraudulently filed documents to seize property from First Christian Church of Lancaster, Canada Drive Christian Church, and Church at Nineveh, three congregations in North Texas. The stolen assets are worth over $800,000 in total.
Real estate theft is a dangerous and severe crime, and Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot stated that it is worse than someone having their car or other belongings stolen. Two of the three properties are still registered in Foster's or his church's names, while the third property is currently the subject of legal action. The group still meets in one of the Dallas churches.
In March 2019, someone purporting to be the chairman of the First Christian Church of Lancaster deeded the church to Foster for $10. Foster dropped a $10 cheque in the mail and informed the TV station he assumed the building was empty. The lead prosecutor Phillip Clark stated that property ownership is a bedrock of society, providing security, a home, and a place to love and welcome each other.
Foster notified the court that he planned to appeal the conviction. During the sentencing portion of the trial, jurors were shown seven more properties with similar "hallmarks" of deed fraud.
Real estate theft is a dangerous and severe crime, and Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot stated that it is worse than someone having their car or other belongings stolen. Two of the three properties are still registered in Foster's or his church's names, while the third property is currently the subject of legal action. The group still meets in one of the Dallas churches.
In March 2019, someone purporting to be the chairman of the First Christian Church of Lancaster deeded the church to Foster for $10. Foster dropped a $10 cheque in the mail and informed the TV station he assumed the building was empty. The lead prosecutor Phillip Clark stated that property ownership is a bedrock of society, providing security, a home, and a place to love and welcome each other.
Foster notified the court that he planned to appeal the conviction. During the sentencing portion of the trial, jurors were shown seven more properties with similar "hallmarks" of deed fraud.
