Robert "Dr. Shine" Freeman's Former Treasurer Sentenced in Pastor's Asset Cover Up

Robert "Dr. Shine" Freeman's Former Treasurer Sentenced in Pastor's Cover Up

Many people may not know but last month, U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced the former treasurer at Seed Faith International Church.  Jeffrey Mont, 33, of Indian Head, was sentenced to:

• two years’ probation
• nine months of home detention
• and 40 hours of community service

This sentence is in connection for his assistance in helping Freeman cover up his assets.
Jeffery Mont also known as “J.J. Mont,” pleaded guilty on March 15 to obstructing court proceedings by helping Freeman doctor and submit backdated, false documents in December 2009 in response to a federal grand jury subpoena seeking corporate record, says SoMdNews.com.

The U.S. Dept of Justice released this statement in detail of what occurred in the cover up:

According to his plea agreement, beginning in June 2008, Mont was a volunteer with Seed Faith International Church. In 2009, a federal grand jury was investigating possible violations of federal laws by Robert Freeman, who operated the church. The focus of the investigation related to luxury vehicles and expensive real estate that the church purchased, through nominee buyers, for the personal benefit of Freeman and his spouse. Freeman and his spouse had not declared these assets as required in their bankruptcy proceeding.

Mont and Freeman caused back-dated corporate records to be created in response to the subpoena, copies of which Mont produced to the federal grand jury on December 24, 2009, along with other documents. As requested, on January 27, 2010, Mont produced originals of some records he had provided previously, including some of the back-dated records. The back-dated records purported to memorialize the conditions pursuant to which church members purchased vehicles and real estate used by Freeman and his wife. In fact, Mont knew that no such documents, programs or corporate resolutions existed at the time of the purchases.

Source from US Dept of Justice press release

God is cleaning house all the way around. Who would follow a man named 'Dr. Shine'? It sounds like a name from a black-exploitation movie.

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Maryland Pastor Dr. Shine To Serve 27 Months for Hiding Millions in Bankruptcy Court

(Photo: Google.com) 

 Maryland Pastor Dr. Shine To Serve 27 Months for Hiding Millions in Bankruptcy Court

A Maryland minister known as Robert "Dr. Shine" Freeman was sentenced to more than two years (27 months) in prison Monday for obstructing bankruptcy court proceedings.

Robert "Dr. Shine" Freeman, 56, founded several ministries: Save the Seed Ministry, Save the Seed International Church and Seed Faith International Church. He was found trying to hide millions of dollars in assets when he filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors in 2005.

“The evidence shows that Robert J. Freeman lived a life of fraud and deception, using millions of dollars from church members and fraudulently obtained credit to pay for luxury cars and a mansion while falsely representing in court that he was indigent,” U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said.

(Photo: Afro.com)

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office:

Shortly after February 2001, Freeman used funds from church members to accumulate substantial assets, including 11 luxury cars valued at over $1,073,000 and a $1.75 million residence in Indian Head, Maryland, which he concealed from the bankruptcy court when he sought a discharge of his debts from the court in 2005.

From 2002 to 2006, Freeman had the following purchased under church members' names:

• two Lincoln Town cars
• two Mercedes Benz cars
• two Volkswagon Phaetons
• a Bentley Arnage vehicle
• A $1.75 million residence on the Potomac River to be purchased in the names of church members

The Maryland residence, located in  Indian Head, comprised about:

• 9,000 square feet, with a deep water pier
• a 20,000 pound covered boat lift
• a jet ski lift
• two four car garages
• five fireplaces
• a gym with steam room

Freeman also caused a Maybach vehicle to be leased in the name of a church member. By October 2005, Freeman and his then-spouse (Dee Dee Shine) owed over $1.3 million in debts, including:

• $846,000 in back rent
• more than $87,000 in lease payments on a jet airplane
• over $160,000 for payments on musical instruments
• and $220,000 in loan payments on a bus
• and much more in year 2006

Freeman did not fully disclose to bankruptcy court his real or personal property and the purchase of luxury vehicles purchased with church funds. 'Dr. Shine' also failed to report income from his ministry and, in a court proceeding, falsely said his ministry went out of business.

In addition to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation, Judge Roger Titus ordered Freeman pay restitution of $631,050.52.

We can thank President Obama for the efforts in part by his Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.

Contact stopfraud.gov for any type of financial fraud.

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