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October 21, 2011 1:24 PM

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Investors accuse Bishop Eddie Long's megachurch of fraud conspiracy

By: Camille Mann
Topics: Daily Blotter ,; Photos

Bishop Eddie Long

/ CBS/The Early Show

(CBS/WGCL/AP) LITHONIA, Ga. - Embattled megachurch pastor Bishop Eddie Long is facing more legal troubles. Ten former members of Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church who attended investment seminars hosted by the church say they lost their retirement savings, and they're suing the pastor and New Birth for conspiring to defraud them.

Pictures: Bishop Eddie Long
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The ex-members say Long used his power as a pastor to get them to invest in the financially troubled City Capital Corp., reports CBS affiliate WGCL.

The plaintiffs said in a lawsuit that in 2009, Long invited Ephren Taylor, then CEO of the company, to speak at New Birth, and that Taylor told members how they could get rich. Instead, the plaintiffs said they lost all of their money.

U.S. Secret Service spokesman Mark Ritchie says agents have seized laptops from employees at New Birth in Lithonia, Ga.

One church member, Lillian Wells, says she lost $122,000, her entire life savings.

"[Taylor] knew what he was doing and it was one more plot to get money from us," Wells told WGCL.

New Birth's spokesman Art Franklin declined to comment.

Long has previously been accused of luring young men into sexual relationships when they were enrolled in New Birth's ministry for teen boys. He reached an out-of-court settlement with four accusers.

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by raybuc70 September 23, 2012 10:11 PM EDT: i would say a lot of churchs run some type of fraud; Reply to this comment


by judymar3 September 3, 2012 2:28 PM EDT: Just by looking at him, one can tell he's a crook. I'll never understand how people can be lead around by their noses just because they think someone is a 'man of god'. Get real, wait till god appears to you, telling you to give. Oh, then again you'll be locked up for being crazy, as it should be.; Reply to this comment


by ItsWinston October 23, 2011 1:55 AM EDT: Use your gut instinct, people. They are a biological gift that protect us from clowns like this.; Reply to this comment

by zenia5 October 22, 2011 11:16 AM EDT

These folks deserved to be fleeced if they were so willing to be brainwashed by these cult leaders.

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by boldandworthy October 24, 2011 1:20 AM EDT: No one deserves to be fleeced by a person whom they trusted. You are identifing with the aggressor instead of the victim. Long purposely found a vulnerable group that trusted him and didn't care about that relationship, he should be put in jail.


by formerusmcsgt1 October 22, 2011 5:07 AM EDT: You have to give Ephren Taylor credit.

He thought "I need some gullible people to victimize".

Where better to find gullibles than in a church?; Reply to this comment


by longtree-2009 October 22, 2011 4:04 AM EDT: people are just stupid and nothing, no government, can protect them from their stupidity. attending investment seminars sponsored by a church and giving up their money to morons within the church. people who follow organized religions are so gullible. where is darwin when you need him?; Reply to this comment


by decotoguy October 22, 2011 3:25 AM EDT: So you thought that worshiping in The CATHEDRAL of SELF-DECEPTION
was FREE,you are WRONG.Now hand over your LIFE.; Reply to this comment


by Ericwvb October 22, 2011 2:50 AM EDT: "A fool and his money are soon parted." -- "But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullsh_t story." -- George Carlin; Reply to this comment


by BlabberBox October 22, 2011 2:43 AM EDT: Join the social networking site www.myblabberbox.com and discuss the current topic; Reply to this comment


by Ericwvb October 22, 2011 2:39 AM EDT: "A fool and his money are soon parted." -- "But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullsh_t story." -- George Carlin; Reply to this comment

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