Topline: Federal prosecutors say an Arlington man used church-related entities to pull in more than $3.2 million from victims across the U.S. and overseas.
Published: July 16, 2026 12:30 pm ET
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ARLINGTON, TX — A 53-year-old Arlington man has been indicted in a federal fraud case accusing him of using church-related entities to collect more than $3.2 million from more than 50 victims through promises of profitable investments and then diverting the money for personal and business expenses.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice press release, Richard Reinaldo Garcia was indicted June 2 by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth on one count of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in a case tied to church-related entities connected to Arlington and Mansfield.
Prosecutors say the scheme ran from August 2021 through April 2025, with Garcia and others allegedly making false material statements to persuade victims to enter agreements and send money for so-called church-flipping real estate improvement projects and joint ventures to host Christian music concerts and other church programs.
Authorities said Garcia controlled bank accounts in the names of entities including Ministerio Gracia, Iglesia Gracia de Texas, Gracia Church of Texas and Pesar de Todo, LLC. Victims were allegedly directed to transfer funds into those accounts and label the payments as donations for Gracia Church, even though the money had been solicited for the fraudulent scheme.
Federal prosecutors said victims across the United States and internationally paid more than $3.2 million as a result of the operation. The FBI is asking anyone who may have been affected to complete a victim information questionnaire posted by the agency.
The case is set for trial Oct. 13 in Fort Worth. If convicted, Garcia faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud-related count, plus a mandatory two-year prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Feds: Investors Were Told to Label Payments as ‘Church Donations’ in $3.2 Million Fraud Scheme
Federal prosecutors say an Arlington man used church-related entities to pull in more than $3.2 million from victims across the U.S. and overseas.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: July 16, 2026 12:30 pm ET
ARLINGTON, TX — A 53-year-old Arlington man has been indicted in a federal fraud case accusing him of using church-related entities to collect more than $3.2 million from more than 50 victims through promises of profitable investments and then diverting the money for personal and business expenses.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice press release, Richard Reinaldo Garcia was indicted June 2 by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth on one count of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in a case tied to church-related entities connected to Arlington and Mansfield.
Prosecutors say the scheme ran from August 2021 through April 2025, with Garcia and others allegedly making false material statements to persuade victims to enter agreements and send money for so-called church-flipping real estate improvement projects and joint ventures to host Christian music concerts and other church programs.
Authorities said Garcia controlled bank accounts in the names of entities including Ministerio Gracia, Iglesia Gracia de Texas, Gracia Church of Texas and Pesar de Todo, LLC. Victims were allegedly directed to transfer funds into those accounts and label the payments as donations for Gracia Church, even though the money had been solicited for the fraudulent scheme.
Federal prosecutors said victims across the United States and internationally paid more than $3.2 million as a result of the operation. The FBI is asking anyone who may have been affected to complete a victim information questionnaire posted by the agency.
The case is set for trial Oct. 13 in Fort Worth. If convicted, Garcia faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud-related count, plus a mandatory two-year prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Feds: Investors Were Told to Label Payments as ‘Church Donations’ in $3.2 Million Fraud Scheme
Federal prosecutors say an Arlington man used church-related entities to pull in more than $3.2 million from victims across the U.S. and overseas.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: July 16, 2026 12:30 pm ET
ARLINGTON, TX — A 53-year-old Arlington man has been indicted in a federal fraud case accusing him of using church-related entities to collect more than $3.2 million from more than 50 victims through promises of profitable investments and then diverting the money for personal and business expenses.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice press release, Richard Reinaldo Garcia was indicted June 2 by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth on one count of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in a case tied to church-related entities connected to Arlington and Mansfield.
Prosecutors say the scheme ran from August 2021 through April 2025, with Garcia and others allegedly making false material statements to persuade victims to enter agreements and send money for so-called church-flipping real estate improvement projects and joint ventures to host Christian music concerts and other church programs.
Authorities said Garcia controlled bank accounts in the names of entities including Ministerio Gracia, Iglesia Gracia de Texas, Gracia Church of Texas and Pesar de Todo, LLC. Victims were allegedly directed to transfer funds into those accounts and label the payments as donations for Gracia Church, even though the money had been solicited for the fraudulent scheme.
Federal prosecutors said victims across the United States and internationally paid more than $3.2 million as a result of the operation. The FBI is asking anyone who may have been affected to complete a victim information questionnaire posted by the agency.
The case is set for trial Oct. 13 in Fort Worth. If convicted, Garcia faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud-related count, plus a mandatory two-year prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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