Florida pastor, 64-year-old Evan Edwards and his 30-year-old son Josh were arrested for fraudulently obtaining $8.4 million Covid relief funds according to the Orlando Division of the Middle District of Florida.
The pastor and his son could face up to 30 years in prison if they are found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Josh submitted his loan application in 2020 and stated that his non-profit, religious organization, Aslan International Ministry, employs around 500 people and receives a monthly salary of $ 2.7 million.
However, Aslan has no employees.
According to reports, Josh and Edwards faked IRS documents to claim that Aslan earned close to $52 million in 2019 and $48 million in 2018.
In addition, the father and son are accused of visa fraud for allegedly falsely reporting that Aslan’s gross income was $1.3 million when it was actually less.
Edwards is married to a Filipina named Mary Jane.
Many Fil-Am religious leaders in Florida emphasize the need of having honest and open business practices inside their churches and nonprofit organizations.
“If there were really a church, pastors should not be doing that in the first place. And you know the consequence won’t come up right away. That is why dumating eto. Wala na silang magagawa. Hindi na nila ma-deny yun,” Ryan Senas of Life in Christ Community Church said.
For Edwin Elacion, who is an elder at a multinational church in Pensacola, the government must implement stringent measures for non-profit organizations that are applying for grants to ensure that the funds are being used the right way.
“They need to check and do a background check. At mag-send sila ng mga tao na talagang yung simbahan nag-eexist talaga, especially sa mga malalaking grant. Very unfair naman sa mga small church katulad sa amin,” Elacion said.
