Federal prosecutors say an Arlington man turned church fundraising into a multimillion-dollar swindle, accusing him of taking more than $3.2 million from over 50 supporters in a scheme that ran for nearly four years.
According to an indictment unsealed this summer in Fort Worth, the alleged scheme stretched from August 2021 through April 2025 and funneled investor money into accounts controlled by the defendant. He now faces federal counts that include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two wire fraud counts, and an aggravated identity theft charge.
Indictment and alleged losses
Prosecutors allege Richard Reinaldo Garcia raised money by pitching church renovation projects, Christian music concerts and other ministry programs, then quietly diverted the cash for personal and business expenses instead. Federal filings say he controlled accounts using names such as Ministerio Gracia, Iglesia Gracia de Texas, Gracia Church of Texas and Pesar De Todo LLC, and that more than 50 people together invested roughly $3.2 million.
Garcia was indicted by a Fort Worth grand jury on June 2. Prosecutors say the fraud counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and the aggravated identity theft count carries a mandatory additional two-year term if he is convicted, as per The Dallas Morning News
Prosecutors' statements and charges
“The defendant allegedly took advantage of his victims’ faith to enrich himself,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in a statement, adding a pointed reminder that religious trust is not a free pass in federal court. The FBI’s Dallas office said it remains committed to investigating people who misuse positions of trust in order to separate supporters from their savings.
The indictment lays out one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Garcia is scheduled to stand trial in Fort Worth beginning October 13, when federal prosecutors will present their case to a jury, as per The Dallas Morning News
Local fallout
Ministerio Gracia has operated an Arlington campus and a network of ministry events that helped attract donors and attendees. News of the indictment has rattled parishioners and small investors who supported the projects, some of whom now find themselves wondering whether they will ever see their money again.
Community members say they are closely watching the federal case for any word on possible restitution while the criminal charges move forward in court, as per NeedHelpPayingBills.
Why investigators focus on faith-based pitches
Federal authorities frequently warn that so-called affinity scams thrive in tight-knit religious communities, where shared faith can lower defenses and make high-pressure pitches sound more trustworthy than they are. Faith-based solicitations, they note, are a common target for fraudsters looking to pose as charitable or church-connected operators.
The FBI has urged donors to vet charities carefully, avoid wiring money to personal or private accounts, and report suspected fraud to law enforcement instead of quietly writing off the loss. For now, prosecutors in Fort Worth are continuing to build their case, and Garcia remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in a court of law.
