Washington pastor Cristian Popescu indicted over alleged $13M fraud of church investors

Mixed · 2Cristian Popescu, 46, of Bothell, Washington, who leads the Passion for Christ congregation in Kirkland, has been indicted on federal charges of defrauding members of his church of about $13 million. 1 2 Mixed · 2The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington says he used his position as pastor to persuade about 30 investors to put money into Followone Inc., a Bellevue-based startup, by telling them God had chosen them to invest. 1 2 Mixed · 2Prosecutors say Popescu began promoting Followone in 2015 as an all-in-one online marketplace and social network, claiming millions in revenue, a $1.4 billion valuation and a coming Nasdaq listing, when the platform was largely non-functional. 2 1

Mixed · 2He allegedly offered board seats to those who invested $1 million, urged investors to draw on retirement accounts and children's college savings (the Independent adds personal and home equity loans), and, according to the indictment, issued misleading press releases and claimed 20 employees when there were three. 1 2 Mixed · 2Prosecutors allege he used shell companies and fake invoices to disguise the movement of investor money, sent more than $4.5 million to accounts of himself, his wife and other relatives, and paid himself over $1 million in wages from 2017 to 2024, plus about $300,000 to his wife, who allegedly did no work for the company. 1 2 Mixed · 2When investors asked for their money back, Popescu allegedly told them they were demonically possessed; the Independent adds that he also said withdrawals could jeopardise the planned stock listing. 1 2

Mixed · 2Individual losses included a single transfer of nearly $1 million and others of about $600,000 and $500,000. The Independent also reports the company was evicted from its Bellevue offices owing more than $350,000 in rent, and that investors had to sign nondisclosure agreements and use encrypted messaging. 1 2 Mixed · 2Popescu is charged with ten counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering, and faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for each money laundering count, with fines of up to $250,000. The Independent reports the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating. 2 1 Mixed · 2He appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle and was released on electronic monitoring; the Independent says this was over prosecutors' objections and that he pleaded not guilty. The outlets differ on the day (Wednesday per the New York Post, Tuesday per the Independent), and the Post gives the trial date as Dec. 21 while the Independent says December 2026. 1 2

Left · 1The charges are allegations; Popescu has not been convicted. 2