FBI SEEKS ADDITIONAL VICTIMS IN ALLEGED $3.2 MILLION CHURCH-RELATED INVESTMENT FRAUD SCHEME

DALLAS — The FBI Dallas Field Office is seeking additional potential victims of Richard Reinaldo Garcia, an Arlington resident federally indicted on charges connected with an alleged church-related investment scheme that prosecutors say collected more than $3.2 million from over 50 victims in the United States and other countries.

Garcia, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth on June 2, 2026, on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The indictment was publicly announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas on July 14.

Federal prosecutors allege that Garcia had connections to several churches in Arlington and Mansfield and used church-related entities to promote investment opportunities involving real estate projects, Christian music concerts and other church programs.

According to the indictment, Garcia and others allegedly induced victims to enter agreements and provide money for “church flipping” projects involving the purchase and improvement of real estate. Victims were also allegedly offered “joint venture” agreements connected with plans to host Christian music concerts and other religious programs.

Prosecutors allege that the proposed ventures were promoted through material misrepresentations and false promises of significant financial returns. Garcia is accused of diverting money provided by victims to pay personal expenses and business operating costs rather than using all of the funds for the purposes represented to investors.

The charged conduct is alleged to have occurred between August 2021 and April 2025. The FBI’s broader effort to locate potential victims covers activity beginning in at least 2020 and continuing to the present. The expanded period does not change the conduct charged in the indictment. It reflects the FBI’s continuing attempt to determine whether other people encountered related solicitations, transferred money or possess information relevant to the investigation.

Garcia allegedly controlled bank accounts carrying church-related and business names, including Ministerio Gracia, Iglesia Gracia de Texas, Gracia Church of Texas and Pesar de Todo, LLC.

Several victims were allegedly instructed to transfer money into accounts held under those names and identify the transactions as “donations.” Prosecutors contend that the funds had actually been solicited for investment arrangements connected with the alleged fraudulent scheme.

The FBI believes Garcia primarily targeted church congregants, their relatives and friends. Investigators are asking anyone who transferred money, entered an agreement or received a related investment solicitation to complete the FBI’s Seeking Information Questionnaire.

“The defendant allegedly took advantage of his victims’ faith by promising significant profits through investment opportunities but instead used their funds to selfishly enrich himself at their expense,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said. “We will not stand idly by while North Texans fall victim to these unscrupulous schemes, and my office will work hard to seek out and prosecute those that commit these types of crimes.”

“The FBI remains committed to investigating those who misuse positions of trust to further fraudulent investment schemes,” FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said. “The FBI encourages anyone who may be a victim to access the Seeking Victims page on our website.”

The federal charges distinguish the alleged investment transactions from legitimate charitable donations. A donation ordinarily does not carry a promise that the donor will receive profits from a business venture. Prosecutors allege that victims were promised financial returns but were directed to describe transferred funds as donations to church-related entities.

The FBI has not stated that every transaction involving the named churches or businesses was unlawful. Investigators are seeking information that can help establish which payments were connected with the alleged scheme, what representations accompanied those payments and whether additional victims exist beyond those already identified.

Potential victims may possess contracts, emails, text messages, bank records, transfer receipts, promotional materials, recordings or other communications that could assist investigators. People completing the questionnaire may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.

Participation in the questionnaire is voluntary. The FBI said the identities of victims will remain confidential. Information submitted may assist the federal investigation and help authorities determine whether a person qualifies as a potential victim.

Federal law requires the FBI to identify victims of crimes under investigation. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services, legal rights and restitution under federal or state law. Eligibility for restitution does not guarantee that money will be recovered or returned, and any restitution order would depend on the outcome of the criminal case and decisions made by the court.

Anyone who believes they or a family member may have been affected can complete the FBI’s English-language Seeking Information Questionnaire.

The FBI also provides a Spanish-language victim-information page and questionnaire. People who know someone who may have been affected are encouraged to direct that person to the questionnaire so the potential victim can submit information directly.

Garcia’s trial is scheduled for October 13, 2026, in Fort Worth. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the conspiracy and wire-fraud counts. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence that must run consecutively to any sentence imposed for the underlying felony.

Those penalties represent the statutory sentencing exposure and do not establish the sentence that would be imposed. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge after considering the proven conduct, applicable law, federal Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac McDonald is prosecuting the case for the Northern District of Texas.

The indictment contains allegations and does not constitute evidence of guilt. Richard Reinaldo Garcia is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

🔥 NOW AVAILABLE! 🔥

‎👉 Eclipsera – Apple Music

Sponsored • TRJ Ads
Inquiries: contact@therealistjuggernaut.com

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE