Alexandria Pastor, Wife Indicted in $1.2 Million Fraud

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The senior pastor of Victorious Life Church in Alexandria, along with his wife, were arrested Sunday for their alleged involvement in a $1.2 million fraud scheme that victimized members of their congregation, according to an announcement Monday by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia.

The church has an office on Quander Road in Old Town Alexandria and holds Sunday services at West Potomac High School in Fairfax County and bible study Wednesday nights at Bren Mar Park Elementary in Fairfax County.

Terry Wayne Millender, 52, his wife Brenda Millender, 56, both of Alexandria, and Grenetta Wells, 55, also of Alexandria and affiliated with the church, were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The charges were unsealed Monday after Wells was arrested, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The defendants operated a company called Micro-Enterprise Management Group (MEMG), a Virginia company that alleged to help poor people in developing countries by providing small, short-term loans to start or expand existing businesses by working with a network of established micro-finance institutions, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Terry Millender and Brenda Millender were founding members of MEMG, with Terry Millender serving as chief executive officer, and Wells served as chief operating officer. The defendants recruited investors by emphasizing its Christian mission and use of the funds to help the poor, promising guaranteed rates of return, assuring investors that the loans’ principal was safe and backed by the assets of MEMG, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The indictment alleges that these representations were false and fraudulent, and that the money was actually used by the defendants to conduct risky trading on the foreign exchange currency market, options trading, payments toward the purchase of a $1.75 million residence for Terry and Brenda Millender, and other personal expenses for the defendants, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. To conceal how they had actually used the money, the defendants are alleged to have falsely assured investors that they would get their money back and blamed delays in repaying investors on the 2008 financial crisis, among other things, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

On the PastorTerry.com website, an ad shows Terry Millender:

Terry Millender's LinkedIn profile features a description of his experience including:

"Pastor Terry Wayne Millender has been involved in Christian ministry for more than 25 years and he currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Victorious Life Church located in Alexandria, VA. As a recognized leader, radio and television show host and gifted prophetic teacher, he is sought after to conduct leadership conferences and training nationally and abroad. He has preached the Gospel and conducted evangelism seminars for pastors and leaders throughout the United States, Ethiopia, China, Nigeria, Ukraine, South Africa, India and Egypt just to name a few.

Before entering full time ministry, Pastor Terry functioned as a Northern Virginia businessman in the areas of Marketing and Communications. He is also the founder of the Washington, D.C.-based Success for Life Initiative, which is a personal development and life management system for urban youth.

Pastor Terry is an advisor to business owners, corporate executives and government agency managers. Most recently he has served in senior management for the following corporations:- Victorious Life Church, Inc.- Kingdom Commodities Unlimited, LLC- MelWayne Oil & Gas Company Limited

Additionally, Pastor Terry has served on numerous Boards in the Non-Profit and corporate arena to include, but not limited too, World Vision International’s (VISION D.C. – Domestic Program) and The Capital Region National Day of Prayer. Pastor Terry has also had the privilege of serving as an HONOR GUARD SENTINEL at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery."

The defendants will make their initial appearances Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Alexandria in front of Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan.

Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.