Evangelist Morris Cerullo going on trial for tax evasion charges

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The onetime leader of the Inspiration Network, now based in Fort Mill, S.C., is in court next week in San Diego on tax evasion charges. Dr. Morris Cerullo raised the Inspiration Network up from the shambles it was in when owned by Jim Bakker’s PTL Ministry.

Dr. Cerullo is head of Morris Cerullo World Evangelism. His style is unmistakable: faith healing, a mission, he says, to build up God’s army. On his Web site, Morris Cerullo claims that 2007 will be your year for financial breakthrough, even as he prepares to face charges for lying about his own personal finances.

Cerullo is facing federal charges of tax evasion.

WCNC obtained a copy of the federal indictment filed against Cerullo in San Diego. In it are claims that Cerullo lied on his income tax returns, omitting more than $500,000.

This, just 15 years after Cerullo’s ministry took over what was left of Jim Bakker’s fallen PTL television network.

It became the Inspiration Network. Cerullo’s son took over the operation, but Cerullo remained involved until 2005.

That’s the same year Cerullo was indicted.

The Inspiration Network said that Morris Cerullo is no longer formally involved in the network, but Cerullo’s show “Victory” airs weekdays on the network.

As for the charges, Cerullo’s attorney says “Dr. Cerullo is extremely disappointed that the charges were filed and believes they are without merit (and) the charges will be proven false.”

But, the federal prosecutor said that the money in question came from offerings at breakthrough rallies and speaking fees.The feds tells us Cerullo used that money as his own.

Cerullo will get his day in a San Diego court on March 20.

If convicted, Cerullo could spend up to nine years in prison and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

Read Another Article

Jury in N.Y. rejects teacher’s $2 million witch claim against school district
Case of notorious sect leader Grabovoi sent to court for trial

Related News Articles Topic(s): Morris Cerullo Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults: ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs. CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support. Find Related Religion & Spirituality Books at Amazon.com Morris Cerullo Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles Kent Hovind: Evangelist arrested on federal charges Beast’s real mark devalued to ’616′ Muslim Woman Gives Sex Advice on Arab TV Michael Jackson Confirms Conversion to Islam Kent Hovind, ‘Dr. Dino,’ guilty on all counts The fall and rise of Carlton Pearson Search False prophet Harold Camping sets another date for rapture: May 21, 2011 Watch the film Theo van Gogh was murdered for Kent Hovind — Dr. Dino — sentenced to 10 years in prison

Search Religion News Blog