A Kirkland, Washington pastor is facing federal charges after prosecutors allege he swindled $13 million from his own church congregation in an elaborate wire fraud scheme. Cristian Popescu, 46, of Bothell — a Romanian citizen and pastor of a Kirkland congregation called Passion for Christ — was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Seattle on 10 counts of wire fraud and 5 counts of money laundering, with trial set for December 21, 2026.

According to the indictment, Popescu recruited investors from within his church using fake marketing materials, a fabricated Bellevue company called Followone Inc., and expensive offices designed to project legitimacy. When investors tried to get their money back, Popescu reportedly told them they were demonically possessed — then spent the cash on luxury goods and day trading. U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd called it a betrayal "financially and faithfully."

Sean breaks down how a faith community became the target of a long-running financial con, why dozens of investors trusted a platform that never worked, and what it says about how Washington handles fraud when the perpetrator walks free awaiting trial.

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#NFRP #Kirkland #WireFraud

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