Alexandria Pastor Dupes Churchgoers Of $2M: Prosecutors

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A jury convicted an Alexandria pastor and his wife for duping $2 million out of investors and falsely telling them the money benefited poor people in developing countries.

Terry Wayne Millender, 53, the former senior pastor of Victorious Life Church in Old Town Alexandria, and his wife Brenda Millender, 57, targeted members of the church in their scheme, according to court documents. They face up to 20 years in prison when they are sentenced.

They founded a company called Micro-Enterprise Management Group (MEMG), which they claimed provided short-term business loans to people in developing countries. Evidence shows convinced investors with their message of Christians wanting to help the poor. The defendants they would get their money back and the loan was backed by the company's assets.

Instead the couple used the money for a $1.75 million house, risky trading on the foreign exchange currency market and other personal expenses. When repayments got delayed, they blamed the 2008 financial crisis and other factors, still telling investors they would be repaid.

After this operation failed, they started a similar scheme called Kingdom Commodities Unlimited, which brokered Nigerian oil deals. Multiple investors entered loan agreements, totaling more than $600,000 overall. This money went toward rent, golf trips and other personal expenses.

Their sentencing is set for March 30, 2018. Co-conspirator Grenetta Wells, 56, of Alexandria, the chief operating officer at MEMG, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and will be sentenced Jan. 12, 2018.

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