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92-Year-Old WWII Veteran Victim of Fraud Scheme by Alleged ‘Christian’ Company | 5 Individuals Arrested, Plot to Swindle More than $300,000 in Retirement Funds

U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the arrest of 5 individuals in connection with a plot to swindle a 92-year-old World War II veteran of more than $300,000 in retirement funds.

The defendants, Lenel Hopkins, 52; Antoinette Monique Hopkins, 42; Alichia Webster, 60; Neil John Halvorson, 65; and Victor Evans Jr., 70, were captured in Alabama and Florida but are scheduled to appear before a judge in Houston for their arraignments.

The defendants and their organization, Ternion Group International LLC, also known as Ternion Training and Education Center Corporation, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

According to the indictment, Ternion promoted itself as a “Christian” worldwide investment organization that worked on construction projects and provided job training to believers.

They allegedly offered investors high profits and ownership rights in local development projects in return for huge deposits in Ternion.

Ternion designated investors as “hubs,” with their addresses serving as actual locations for the hubs, according to court filings.

Investors were misled into believing they would receive millions of dollars in return for their investments, but according to the allegations, they never received any.

One victim, a 92-year-old WWII veteran, was persuaded to invest $300,000 with the promise of a $13 million profit.

The funds were purportedly intended to create a vocational school and purchase 100 dwellings.

According to the accusation, Evans instead used the victim’s money to pay himself a wage.

Halvorson is also accused of coercing the veteran into signing a new will that granted Evans successor rights and power of attorney over the victim’s property, bank accounts, and contracts.

He also allegedly used a medical power of attorney to sign a do-not-resuscitate order on the victim.

The victim has not received any of the promised returns and has not heard from anyone at Ternion since 2020.

Furthermore, the property allocated for the project’s site is privately owned and not for sale, according to the indictment.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine per count.

The FBI conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Elder Justice Initiative, which is dedicated to combating elder abuse, neglect, and financial fraud against older adults.

NEWS SOURCE & LINKS:
FOX 26 Houston

WWII Veteran Victim of Fraud by Alleged ‘Christian’ Company | 5 ARRESTED, PLOT TO SWINDLE $300,000+ | Christian Breaking News!