Jonathan Chang Former Home of Christ Church Elder and Wife Grace Chang Accused of Defrauding Church and Donor of $7.4 Million
A former elder of a Saratoga church and his wife have been indicted by a federal grand jury in San Jose on charges
of defrauding the church and a wealthy foreign donor of $7.4 million. Jonathan Chang, 60, and Grace Chang, 57, of Cupertino, were accused in a nine-count wire fraud and money launderingindictment issued under seal on Feb. 4.
The indictment was unsealed Monday after the couple made initial appearances before a federal magistrate in San Jose and were each released on bonds of $200,000. Jonathan Chang was formerly an elder of the Home of Christ Church 4 in Saratoga from about 2002 to 2011, with responsibility for managing the church’s finances, according to the indictment. Grace Chang assisted him with correspondence and other tasks, the document said.
The Saratoga church is one of six Bay Area branches of the nondenominational Home of Christ Church. The other branches are located in San Francisco, Menlo Park, Fremont, Cupertino and Newark. The charges against the pair include one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud by bilking the church and a foreign donor, identified only by the initials C.W., of a total of $7.4 million between 2004 and January 2016.
The indictment alleges that Jonathan Chang set up a supposed charitable foundation called Home of Christ Associates, or HOC Associates. The couple allegedly then deceived C.W. into believing the supposed foundation was associated with the church, and deceived the church into believing it was the same as a genuine foundation established by C.W.
The couple allegedly diverted a $2 million donation and $3 million loan from C.W. for a new church building, $1.5 million in other donations from C.W. and $900,000 in church funds to the supposed foundation and then used the funds for their own benefit.
The indictment also charges both Changs with four counts of wire fraud for transfers of money made from C.W. in Taiwan to an HOC Associates bank account, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and three counts of money laundering for transfers of funds from the HOC Associates account to accounts they controlled. Each count carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison upon conviction.
The Changs are due to return to the court of U.S. Magistrate Nathanael Cousins on Thursday for identification of their defense lawyers and a further bond hearing.
民事控狀顯示,王雪紅與丈夫陳文琦是虔誠的基督徒,兩人創立「信望愛基金會」(Faith Hope Love Foundation),支持全球各地的基督教組織。兩人在基督之家第四家結婚,陳文琦在該教會受洗,兩人對該教會感情深厚。
根據控狀,王雪紅與陳文琦從1996年起捐助大筆款項給基督之家第四家,成立「神學院基金」(Seminary Fund)、「中國大陸傳教基金」(Mainland China Mission Fund)及「教堂建築發展基金」(Church/Building Development Fund),總額高達110萬美元。而今次涉案的常如武是陳文琦的大學同學,常如武獲得王雪紅與陳文琦充分信任,被指派為威盛電子公司美國地區總經理與財務長。