28 Million Dollars Seized From Message Cult Pastor In Criminal Investigation
Moments before the end of the 2019 fiscal year, Federal Investigators impounded $28,046,500 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Pastor Vinworth Dayal of the Third Exodus Assembly, a cult church dedicated to the continuation of the doctrinal teachings of William Marrion Branham of Jeffersonville, IN, attempted to exchange the funds in old $100 bills at State Bank First Citizens' branch at South Trunk Road, La Romaine on December 23. Bank representatives sent Dayal to Central Bank.
Moments before the end of the 2019 fiscal year, Federal Investigators impounded $28,046,500 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Pastor Vinworth Dayal of the Third Exodus Assembly, a cult church dedicated to the continuation of the doctrinal teachings of William Marrion Branham of Jeffersonville, IN, attempted to exchange the funds in old $100 bills at State Bank First Citizens' branch at South Trunk Road, La Romaine on December 23. Bank representatives sent Dayal to Central Bank.
According to church representatives, the 28 million in $100 bills were all collected as tithe donations to the church. Dayal claimed that he had "collected over the past 19 years voluntary offerings for his personal use and benefit from members of the congregation of the church in the form of tithes."
Central Bank has launched their own investigation into the massive amount of money collected by the pastor, and officially requested:
- The church's First Citizens statements for 2018 and 2019;
- Dayal's bank statements for 2018 and 2019 for the bank account at First Citizens which he held jointly with his wife
- the originals and a copy of all bank statements referred to in the statutory declaration which were in Dayal's immediate possession
Article in Antigua Observer:
https://www.antiguaobserver.com/trinidad-pastor-brings-28m-in-tithes-to-the-bank/
Article in Daily Express:
https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/pastor-m-in-tithes/article_06cc1a06-2cfe-11ea-bc86-9f2ac9dc0a37.html