---

Associated Press, USA
Jan. 20, 2004
www.11alive.com

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 5771 • Posted: Wednesday January 21, 2004  

---

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted two men on charges of scamming about 1,600 churches out of nearly $9 million.

The jury returned the 91-count indictment against Abraham L. Kennard, 45, of Wildwood, and R. Scott Cunningham, 52, of Dalton, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced Tuesday.

According to prosecutors, the pair began a scheme in July 2001 in which they promised a forgivable loan or non refundable grant of $50,000 for every $3,000 in fees a church or other non-profit paid their company.

Nationwide, churches in 41 states invested at least $8.7 million after Network International Investment Corp., based in Wildwood, promised great returns, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The indictment claims Kennard paid a group of affiliates to locate potential victims for the company’s “Church Funding Project.” He then hosted a series of bogus financial presentations throughout the country.

In 2002, Cunningham, a Dalton attorney, deposited the proceeds from the scheme into a trust account, the indictment claims.

The money paid for limousines, private jets, luxury automobiles and property for Kennard, his family and girlfriend and Cunningham, the indictment claims.

“This is a disturbing scheme that preyed on the trusting members of the faith community,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Duffey.

No trial date has been set in the case.

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Abraham Kennard Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Abraham Kennard Read Another Article Previous entry: Episcopalian splinter group launched over gay bishop Next entry: Vatican Denies Pope Endorsed Film RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Abraham Kennard Most Popular Today World’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship, ministry ship Doulos, to stop sailing Pakistan Militants Bomb CD Shop For Selling ‘Jesus Film’ Muslim Violence Ongoing in Egypt; Christians Plead For Help

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- 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.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.