Pastor Jim Staley Went to Prison for Lying to Elderly Wanting to Take Care of Their Families.

Why Pastor Jim Staley Went to Jail. It's worse than you think.

For a full exhaustive compilation of all court documents and testimonies, click here for Jim Staley Court Details

Jim Staley, a St. Louis preacher, was convicted of fraud after lying to elderly couples about investing their entire life savings in his plan in order to earn 10 times their investment back. He targeted the elderly specifically since they were so wanting to make a good investment in order to ensure their children and grandkids had money after they died. These seniors were simply trying to provide for their families until they lost everything. A member of the California-based insurance company Staley worked for stated in court that the documents show Staley did not simply mislead his victims, he lied. 

Jim Staley, 40, received a seven-year prison sentence and was ordered to refund $3.3 million to elderly investors on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to four charges of wire fraud and gained $570,000 from elderly victims who believed him due to his Christian religion and family values. Several of them were dementia sufferers. He admitted to defrauding others while amassing a personal fortune of $570,000.

On Wednesday, several victims and their relatives described him in court as "sick, manipulative, and deceptive" and a "disgusting and terrible criminal." They stated that some elderly investors trusted him due to his alleged Christian religion and family values, while others trusted him due to their deteriorating mental health. Officials stated that none of them were church members.
While Staley apologized, the daughter of a guy who lost $155,000 in Staley's scam said the apology was not genuine and was manufactured for church members.

Staley began with a basement Bible study, formed the Passion For Truth Ministries in 2008, and began broadcasting live messages in 2009. Since then, he has been on a variety of Christian television networks and radio stations throughout the country. His church has approximately 200 members on the local level and an international following of believers in the "Christian Roots Movement," which advocates adherence to the Bible's essential principles. Despite the court's warning that failing to accept personal responsibility for his acts could result in additional prison time, Staley has claimed in sermons that he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time" and blamed the economy.

As a sales agent for the California-based B&B Equity Group, Staley deceived victims into believing that billionaire Warren Buffett was an investor and urged them to cash out on annuities despite the fact that they would lose money. Even after the state filed a cease and desist order, he continued to sell investments. Staley failed to inform clients about the order. Staley was found guilty of defrauding elderly persons who were attempting to make prudent investments for the benefit of their children and grandchildren after their deaths.

Scott Rosenblum, the defense counsel, requested a five-year sentence from the judge. Assistant United States Attorney Dianna Collins desired a sentence of nine to 114 years in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines.

St Louis Today's report of Jim Staley's Prison Sentence is located HERE

Judge E. Richard Webber emphasized Staley's stable marriage and home life in imposing the seven-year sentence, as well as his complete lack of a criminal record or history of drug or alcohol misuse. However, Webber stated that Staley had demonstrated "very little motivation in making reparation thus far" and had frequently downplayed his crime.

 

Staley stated in a 2013 35-minute video rebuttal to critics, "I was not defrauding tiny old ladies of their money." He blamed investor losses on the economic slowdown following his indictment last year.

Although he was admonished not to continue denying responsibility following his guilty plea, he claimed in an Aug. 1 sermon that he was merely at the "wrong place at the wrong time" and had not been permitted to present his side. "I am aware of the truth, as is my King," he declared.

 

Staley was denied a credit for accepting responsibility under federal sentencing guidelines due to those utterances.

 

 

Rosenblum described Staley's acceptance of culpability as a "process," adding that following an epiphany last week, his client ceased dissecting language and admitted to having had evil motives at some time.

 

Staley, dressed in a blue button-down shirt and trousers and holding back tears, apologized to the court for being overzealous, failing to conduct adequate research on the transactions, and neglecting to warn investors of potential losses.

 

He committed to compensate victims, stating that "my faith compels me to do so."

 

According to victims and officials, Staley pledged profits and convinced some customers to cash in annuities despite the fact that doing so would result in "substantial" penalties. They alleged he falsely claimed that Warren Buffett, the wealthy investor, was an investor and that firms were using the money in their 401k programs.

 

Prosecutors allege that he continued to market the investment — packaged life insurance policies — and recruit salespeople despite the fact that the product was failing to sell and after being ordered to cease. He failed to inform investors of a cease-and-desist order from the authorities.

 

Staley was a sales agent for the B&B Equity Group, a California-based corporation. Other agents, as well as those who recruited them, were investigated criminally in other jurisdictions.

 

When Collins was asked if it appeared as though Staley truly accepted responsibility, he referred to a previous statement by Rosenblum regarding some persons who adopt multiple personalities for different people. "Perhaps it is the face Staley put on today," she speculated.

 

Following the hearing, the daughter of a man who claimed to have lost $155,000 stated that she believed Staley's apology was "manufactured" for church members. They came in droves to demonstrate their support for Staley - so many that onlookers were forced to sit in the courtroom's jury box, while others were forced to stand.

UPDATE: Jim Staley has been released from Prison as of January 2021. He has begun going on interviews and talkshows changing the official story contained in the court records. He says Satan is attacking him and Jesus will protect him. Jim Staley's ministry's YouTube channel has also been banned on YouTube due to him lying about knowing and speaking to Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, and furthering harmful conspiracy theories through lies. He claims Satan banned his YouTube channel due to him "Speaking Truth". He seeks to petition for the public to donate to his re-newed ministry on his website, Passionfortruth.com






Staley has continued posting negative reviews on churches throughout the country claiming they are "pagan" and advertising his Truth or Tradition teachings to prove it.