Texas Pastor Sentenced to 35 Years for Stealing Real Estate From Churches

File photograph of a judge's gavel. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

A Texas pastor has been sentenced to prison for stealing real estate from multiple churches in Dallas County, the Dallas County District Attorney’s office announced on Monday.

Whitney Foster, who led the True Foundation Non-Denominational Church, was convicted in May of creating fraudulent documents to take possession of three churches across Dallas County. He is represented by lawyer Thomas Allen in Lancaster, Texas.

“Stealing real estate is an incredibly serious and damaging crime,” said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot in a statement. “When someone steals property, we must hold them accountable because they are hurting people.”

The scheme affected the First Christian Church of Lancaster, Canada Drive Christian Church in Dallas, and the Church at Nineveh in Dallas.

The Dallas County District Attorney’s office said that two of the properties remain under Mr. Foster’s or his congregation’s name, while the third church “remains embroiled in legal complications caused by Foster’s actions.”

According to the church’s Facebook page, Mr. Foster’s small congregation still meets at the Canada Drive Church. However, the church’s phone number is no longer active. A video of a church service was posted to the page on June 9.

The 56-year-old pastor was sentenced to 35 years in prison for theft of property worth $300,000 or more. The combined value of the three church properties exceeded $800,000, according to the release.

Mr. Foster had a prior criminal history, including convictions for theft and arson.

During sentencing, prosecutors presented the jury with “evidence of seven additional fraudulent deeds” similar to the three charges on which he had been found guilty.

Lead prosecutor Phillip Clark said he was thankful for the jury’s decision to find Mr. Foster guilty of the charges against him.

“Property ownership is a bedrock of our society—it provides security, a home, a place to love and welcome each other,” Mr. Clark said in a statement. “Deed fraud cases are not simply disputes; they are lies and fraud—they are theft—and they are deeply damaging. I’m so grateful that the jury saw the truth in this case and held the defendant to account.”

How Did This Happen?

The First Christian Church of Lancaster filed a motion for judicial review in November 2020 after church officials received a notice that someone unaffiliated with the congregation owned the church’s property.

On March 19, 2019, a “quitclaim deed” was signed by Aaron Finley, a man claiming to be the chairman of the First Christian Church of Lancaster, granting the transfer of the property to Mr. Foster. Mr. Finley was not associated with the church, according to court documents obtained by The Epoch Times.

According to its historical marker, the church, founded in 1846, was among the oldest Christian congregations in North Texas. However, the church’s phone number is no longer working, and it appears the historic church may have shuttered since the property was stolen.

Investigators soon discovered Mr. Foster’s scheme was linked to the Canada Drive Church and Church at Nineveh.

In May 2021, he posted a video of himself on social media denying the charges against him.

“I want you to know, amen, that it’s a scandal, amen,” he said. “I am innocent.”

Mr. Foster is expected to appeal his conviction. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment before press time.

In Dallas County, property owners can set alerts to notify them of claims or transactions filed against their property. Other counties offer similar services.