February 25, 2002
South Texas churches warned about
con man seeking missions support
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___NOME--A man purporting to be a Native American leader is seeking to bilk Texas Baptist congregations, a Southeast Texas pastor warns.
___The man says he is a direct descendant of Geronimo, is next in line to become chief over all Native American tribes and now is ambassador to the chief, according to Les Jacobson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Nome, just one of several churches where the man and his wife have spoken recently. The man claims to be a recent convert to Christianity and seeks funds to take the gospel back to the Indian Nation.
___The man stayed in the home of member of Jacobson's church and over the course of a few days, the people he stayed with became suspicious, Jacobson said. The man gave increasingly suspicious answers to questions about his life. For example, although his wife was going by the name Sandra, he had the name Jan tattoed on his arm. When questioned, the man said the tattoo was supposed to be one of his sons' names, but the tattoo artist ran out of ink.
___The family alerted Jacobson they felt the man's story might not be legitimate. Jacobson then went through Internet sources and ultimately called the Apache reservation, where the man claimed to be from. They learned that the tribes no longer have a person they call "chief." They also learned that churches of many denominations operate on the reservations, contrary to what the mysterious visitor had said in his appeal for funds.
___Jacobson took his information to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. The law enforcement agency held the man for a short while for driving without a valid driver's license and without insurance, but officers released him after a short while.
___Police were not able to press fraud charges against the man because he told the church he did not have a bank account, but his wife did. The church made its contribution payable to the man's wife. That provided the loophole the man needed, Jacobson said, because the church could not prove the man received the money. The man's wife had not spoken or made any request for funds.
___The man reportedly has a lengthy criminal history, Jacobson said. "The officer said there is absolutely nothing this man won't do."
___The man seems to have left the Southeast Texas area, according to Jacobson and other church leaders who have encountered him.
___"We feel strongly that it is our duty to make this information known to all Baptist churches who will listen, so that they may be aware of these con artists and forewarned," Jacobson said.
___The church lost more than just money, Jacobson said.
___"This couple scammed us for money, but the damage they did was much more painful. They built up false dreams and false enthusiasm. Even worse, they hurt our church's trust. ... It will take time for our wounded emotions to heal," he said.
___The man became involved with the churches of Golden Triangle Baptist Association after he was invited to services at a Hispanic church. There he came forward, professing faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized. He then told of his desire to take the gospel message back to Native Americans living on the reservations.
___Montie Martin, executive director of Golden Triangle Association, said he was so impressed with the enthusiasm of the Hispanic pastors and the man that he invited him to speak at a pastors' luncheon in January. That speaking engagement prompted invitations from pastors across the association.
___"When he got up and shared his testimony, our congregation was moved," Jacobson admitted. "It moved me."
___The man is about 5-feet 7-inches tall, has a stocky build, long black ponytail, brown eyes, dark complexion and appears to be in his early 40s. His wife is about 5-feet 4-inches tall, has dark, shoulder-length hair, brown eyes and appears to be in her late 30s.
___"We here at First Baptist Church in Nome pray that by sharing this painful event our church family has so recently faced, we may not only keep the same thing from happening to more of our sister churches, but may have a hand in stopping or at least hampering the continuation of this blasphemy," Jacobson said. "God is in control, and he will handle the rest."
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