Two Atlanta-area men say a fellow church member talked them into putting more than $20,000 into his oil company, promising big returns. A judge later ordered the money paid back, but the men say they are still empty-handed, and now the Georgia Secretary of State is taking a closer look at what happened inside their congregation.
The investors, Michael Roberson and Edward Wright, told Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln that Gregory Johnson, the owner of ARP Petroleum LLC, assured them he would double their money. Both men took Johnson to court on their own and won judgments that ordered him to repay them. Even with those rulings in hand, they say no money has come back, according to WSB-TV.
Earlier reporting described even larger amounts at stake. One man said he wired about $27,000 and the other roughly $23,000, and bank records shared with reporters supported those transfers. One of the men filed a formal complaint with state officials in 2022 and says he still sees Johnson at church, a situation that has only added to the emotional strain for both men, per Black Enterprise.
State probe and registration questions
The Georgia Secretary of State's office told Channel 2 it is reviewing the allegations. Channel 2’s reporting also found that ARP Petroleum LLC was not registered with the state, a detail that typically gets regulators’ attention when they look into possible investment schemes.
The state’s Corporations Division explains that corporations and limited liability companies must be created by filing with that office, and that a business operating without registration can raise enforcement and liability concerns, according to the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division.
How to spot red flags and report
Investor education materials warn people to be cautious when they hear promises of fast, unusually high returns, are pushed to act quickly, or are urged to trust a deal simply because it comes through a friend, family member, or religious community. Those are all common hallmarks of scams.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s investor site lays out these red flags, explains how to verify registrations, and details how to report suspected fraud, per Investor.gov.
Roberson and Wright say they believed winning in court would finally bring some relief. Johnson previously told reporters he would repay them within 30 days, but that deadline passed without payment, according to local coverage by Black Enterprise. The Secretary of State’s review is still underway, and officials are urging anyone with similar experiences to contact state regulators and consider speaking with an attorney.
