Dr. Shine, God’s Top Gun of Deliverance, Gets Two Years in the Slammer
Bizarre videos after the jump.
This guy defies description. Before you get to the meat of the story — two years and three months in prison and more than $631,000 in restitution for obstructing bankruptcy proceedings — get a load of the promos on “The Word Network” for “Dr. Shine & Dee Dee Seed Faith International Church,” in which “Dr. Shine,” a.k.a. Robert J. Freeman, flies around the stage and into the air, where he morphs into a fighter jet. Not only does the title of the program sound like that of a bad Saturday-morning kiddie show, it looks like it, too (rather reminiscent of “Bible Man,” with or without washed-up wash-out Willie Aames):
Short version:
Long version:
When you’re able to put your eyes back in their sockets, read on…
“Dr. Shine” indicted; press release, U.S. Department of Justice, December 1, 2010:
Bankruptcy Proceedings and Federal Grand Jury Investigation
Minister Allegedly Concealed Use of Church Funds to Acquire a Residence
and Luxury Vehicles Worth Millions in the Names of Church Members
Greenbelt, Maryland – Robert J. Freeman, a/k/a Dr. Shine, age 54, and Jeffrey Mont, a/k/a J.J. Mont, age 32, both of Indian Head, Maryland, were indicted on charges of obstructing court proceedings; and Freeman was also indicted for making false statements and falsifying records in bankruptcy proceedings. The indictment was returned on November 10, 2010 and unsealed on November 24, 2010 when Freeman appeared in court in Greenbelt for his initial appearance.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Sparkman of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
“The role of the IRS-Criminal Investigation becomes even more important in financial cases due to the complex transactions that can take time to unravel,” stated Rebecca Sparkman, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Washington DC Field Office. “The indictment should serve as a warning to anyone who is contemplating committing such financial schemes that illegal activity will not go unnoticed.”
According to the five count superseding indictment, Freeman purported to be a minister of Save the Seed Ministry, Inc., Save the Seed International Church, and Seed Faith International Church, which he incorporated in 1991, 2001 and 2003, respectively. From 2001 to 2006, Freeman allegedly used church funds to accumulate substantial assets that he concealed from the bankruptcy court when he sought a discharge of his debts from the court in 2005.
For example, in 2002, Freeman allegedly caused two Lincoln Town cars to be purchased in the names of two church members for more than $55,000. In 2003, Freeman allegedly caused a Mercedes Benz car to be purchased in the name of a third church member for almost $40,000. In July 2004, Freeman allegedly caused a $1.75 million residence on the Potomac River to be purchased in the name of a fourth church member. The Maryland residence, located at 5200 Rivers Edge Place 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 and a gym with steam room. The church member, however, eventually decided not to proceed with the purchase and Freeman allegedly caused a fifth church member to consummate the sale in December 2004. Freeman and others, not the church member, lived in the residence.
In August and October 2004, Freeman allegedly caused two Volkswagon Phaetons to be purchased in the name of two of the church members for more than $140,000. In June 2005, Freeman caused a Bentley Arnage vehicle and a Maybach vehicle to be purchased and leased, respectively, in the name of a church member for more than $340,000. In February 2006, Freeman allegedly caused another Mercedes Benz car to be purchased in the name of a church member for more than $68,000.
The indictment alleges that by October 2005, Freeman and his then-spouse owed debts totaling more than $1.3 million, including $846,000 in back rent; more than $87,000 in lease payments on a jet airplane; more than $160,000 for payments on musical instruments; and $220,000 in loan payments on a bus. On October 14, 2005 Freeman filed a bankruptcy petition seeking to adjust or discharge his debts. Freeman was required to disclose to the bankruptcy court all real or personal property, including property held by another that Freeman controlled.
The indictment alleges that Freeman lied to the bankruptcy court and obstructed its proceedings by not fully reporting his real or personal property, or property owned by another that Freeman controlled, including the home and luxury vehicles purchased with church funds. Freeman also is alleged to have falsely reported his occupation as a consultant of a maintenance company, and failed to report any income from his ministry. Additionally, at a court proceeding, Freeman is alleged to have falsely stated that his ministry business went out of business; he was renting a residence in Waldorf from friends; and he provided false pay stubs from a maintenance company that in fact did not employ Freeman. Relying on the false information, on March 8, 2006 the bankruptcy court discharged hundreds of thousands of dollars in debts owed by Freeman.
In the weeks following the discharge of his debts, Freeman caused three Mercedes Benz vehicles and a Lincoln Navigator to be purchased or leased for more than $430,000 in the name of a church member.
Beginning in June 2008, Jeffrey Mont was a full-time volunteer with Seed Faith International Church. On November 24, 2009, a federal grand jury subpoena was issued to Seed Faith International Church that required the church to produce corporate records for 2000 through 2008. On December 9, 2009, the subpoena was served on Mont as treasurer of Seed Faith. The indictment alleges that Freeman and Mont sought to obstruct the grand jury’s proceedings by causing back-dated false and fictitious corporate records to be created that Mont produced to the federal grand jury in response to the subpoena.
Freeman faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each of two counts of obstruction of official proceedings; five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for filing false records in a bankruptcy proceeding; and five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each of two counts for making false statements in a bankruptcy proceedings. Mont faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for obstruction of official proceedings.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the IRS – Criminal Investigation for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Pauzé and Mara Zusman Greenberg, who are prosecuting the case.
“Dr. Shine” pleads guilty; press release, U.S. Department of Justice, July 18, 2011:
Minister Concealed Use of Funds from Church Members to Acquirea $1.75 Million Residence
and 12 Luxury Vehicles Worth Over a Million in the Names of Church Members
Greenbelt, Maryland – Robert J. Freeman, a/k/a Dr. Shine, age 55, of Indian Head, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to obstructing bankruptcy court proceedings.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeannine A. Hammett of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
“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 homes, cars, boats and even a jet airplane while falsely representing in court that he was indigent,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.
“Bankruptcy fraud can result in serious consequences because it undermines public confidence in the system, taints the reputation of honest citizens seeking protection under the bankruptcy statutes, and has a negative impact on voluntary compliance in our income tax system,” Acting IRS Special Agent in Charge Jeannine A. Hammett said. “As the IRS is often a major creditor in bankruptcy proceedings, the detection and prosecution of bankruptcy fraud continues to be a priority for IRS Criminal Investigation.”
According to his guilty plea, Freeman served as pastor and leader of Save the Seed Ministry, Inc., Save the Seed International Church, and Seed Faith International Church, which he incorporated in 1991, 2001 and 2003, respectively. Shortly after February 2001, Freeman used funds from church members to accumulate substantial assets, including 12 luxury cars valued at over $1,073,000 and a $1.75 million residence in Indian Head, Maryland, that he concealed from the bankruptcy court when he sought a discharge of his debts from the court in 2005.
More specifically, in 2002, Freeman caused two Lincoln Town cars to be purchased in the names of two church members for more than $55,000. In 2003, Freeman caused a Mercedes Benz car to be purchased in the name of a third church member for almost $40,000. In 2004, Freeman allegedly caused a $1.75 million residence on the Potomac River to be purchased in the name of another church member. The Maryland residence, located at 5200 Rivers Edge Place 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 and a gym with steam room. Freeman and others, not the church member, lived in the residence.
In August and October 2004, Freeman caused two Volkswagon Phaetons to be purchased in the name of two church members for more than $140,000. In June 2005, Freeman caused a Bentley Arnage vehicle and a Maybach vehicle to be purchased and leased, respectively, in the name of a church member for more than $340,000. In February 2006, Freeman allegedly caused another Mercedes Benz car to be purchased in the name of a church member for more than $68,000.
By October 2005, Freeman and his then-spouse owed debts totaling more than $1.3 million, including $846,000 in back rent; more than $87,000 in lease payments on a jet airplane; more than $160,000 for payments on musical instruments; and $220,000 in loan payments on a bus. On October 14, 2005 Freeman filed a bankruptcy petition seeking to adjust or discharge his debts. Freeman was required to disclose to the bankruptcy court all real or personal property, including property held by another that Freeman controlled.
Freeman lied to the bankruptcy court and obstructed its proceedings by not fully reporting his real or personal property, or property owned by another that Freeman controlled, including the home and luxury vehicles purchased with church funds. Freeman also falsely reported his occupation as a consultant of a maintenance company, and failed to report any income from his ministry. Additionally, at a court proceeding, Freeman falsely stated that his ministry business went out of business and that he was renting a residence in Waldorf from friends; and he provided false pay stubs from a maintenance company that in fact did not employ Freeman. Relying on the false information, on March 8, 2006 the bankruptcy court discharged hundreds of thousands of dollars in debts owed by Freeman.
In the weeks following the discharge of his debts, Freeman caused three Mercedes Benz vehicles and a Lincoln Navigator to be purchased or leased for more than $430,000 in the name of a church member.
Freeman faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. U.S. District t Judge Roger W. Titus scheduled sentencing for November 28, 2011, at 10:30 a.m.
This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the IRS – Criminal Investigation for its investigative work and praised Assistant U.S. Attorney Mara Zusman Greenberg, who is prosecuting the case.
Jeffrey Mont pleads guilty; press release, U.S. Department of Justice, March 15, 2012:
Produced to a Federal Grand Jury
Jeffrey Mont Back-Dated Corporate Records of Seed Faith International Church
to Provide in Response to a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena
Greenbelt, Maryland – Jeffrey Mont, a/k/a J.J. Mont, age 33, of Indian Head, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to obstruction of an official proceeding.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric C. Hylton of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
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.
On November 24, 2009, a federal grand jury subpoena was issued requiring the church to produce corporate records, and on December 9, 2009, the federal grand jury subpoena was served on Mont in his capacity as treasurer of the church. 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.
Mont faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus has scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
Robert J. Freeman, a/k/a Dr. Shine, age 55, of Indian Head, Maryland, pleaded guilty on July 18, 2011, to obstructing bankruptcy court proceedings for failing to disclose to the bankruptcy court all real or personal property, including a home and luxury vehicles purchased with church funds. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 at his sentencing scheduled on May 7, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the IRS-CI for its work in the investigation and thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Mara Zusman Greenberg and Stuart A. Berman, who are prosecuting the case.
Which brings us to the latest: While Jeffrey Mont was sentenced to two years’ probation, with nine months of home detention and 40 hours of community service, “Dr. Shine” got “27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for obstructing bankruptcy court proceedings,” and was ordered to pay $631,050.52 in restitution, according to TheBayNet, which also quotes U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein: “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.”
Hey, maybe that’s the secret to the “prosperity gospel”: “I’m broke! But I can show you how to be rich, and save your soul all in one fell swoop! Support me!”
After all, as somebody (maybe it was L. Ron Hubbard, and maybe it wasn’t) once said: “Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way to do it would be start his own religion.”
Still, it looks like “Dr. Shine” hasn’t discovered the secret to avoiding divorce.
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