Dec. 26, 2009
Apolistic Life Church, Minister, Others Sued by Fifth Third
Defendant Mark Manuel Was Sued for Securities Fraud in Tennessee
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The trustees and minister of Apostolic Life Cathedral have been sued by Fifth Third Bank for defaulting on a $900,000 loan. However, the complaint alleges fraud, civil conspiracy, unauthorized practice of law and interference with a contractual relationship.
Ed Harper, the church’s pastor resigned Friday, Dec. 17, as a members of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.
NON CHURCH DEFENDANT FACES SECURITIES FRAUD FEDERAL SUIT IN TENNESSEE FOR PONZI SCHEME
Also named as a defendant, a Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee company , DigiGreeters and its owner, Mark Shannon Manuel.
The company and its owner was also named in a 2008 Tennessee Middle District Court complaint for securities fraud. The complaint alleges that Mark and Greg Manuel created Mpire Holdings as a ponzi investment scheme which allegedly induced Christians to invest their life savings. They were allegedly involved in a company called MRT FOREX, which allegedly scammed up to 50 million dollars from investors.
The complaint filed May 30, 2008, named MPire Holdings, LLC, MRT, LLC (a.k.a. MRI Holdings), The Momentum Group, Mark, Greg and Mike Manuel and James Clements as defendants.
Greg Manuel based on the complaint, is a resident of Franklin, Tennessee and Pastor of Community Life Fellowship Church. Greg Manuel “promotes himself as not only an evangelist but a distinguished entrepreneur and business development consultant.”
Proceeding pro se, the Manuels’ filed a counterclaim in the Mpire Holdings case. On December 23, Tennessee magistrate judge John Bryant recommended that the defenses and counterclaim “amount to legal nonsense wholly lacking in legal merit.” Download a PDF of the Magistrate’s Recommendation by clicking here.
THE TENNESSEE COMPLAINT
Defendants “targeted” plaintiff as an “unsuspecting investor… and fraudulently induced her to place the money she received for the loss of her leg with MRT and MPIRE --- both of which are believed to somehow be connected and to operate what amounts as an illegal ponzi scheme,” the complaint states.
The Tennessee complaint alleged that defendants became aware that Plaintiff Debbie Smith received a monetary settlement for negligent medical treatment that led to the amputation of her leg. Mark Manuel allegedly approached Debbie Smith with a “one of a kind GOD THING investment opportunity known as MRT. Ms. Smith had been working with Mike Manuel in producing a country music CD. The couple invested $200,000 and within three months their account registered a zero balance. Later, the complaint indicated the account was corrected to show about $219,000 as a balance, but Debbie Smith could not withdraw her funds. As part of the allegations a misleading promissory note was involved.
Count of the federal complaint allege fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract by selling and not disclosing the sale of “unregistered securities and operating what amounted to an illegal pyramid scheme.” You can view the 34 page complaint against the Manuels for the alleged ponzi scheme through this pdf download.
APOSTOLIC LIFE COMPLAINT
The church’s note matured on June 30, 2009. On September 9, 2009, a Notice of Correction to Deed of Trust prepared by Mark Shannon Manuel was recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the Cabell Commission. The release of Mortgage /Note had been prepared by DigiGreeters, LLC.
Fifth Third alleges that the statements were “were naturally and commonly to be interpreted as denying, disparaging and casting doubt on Plaintiff’s legal rights and interests in and to the Subject Property, were so understood, were willfully and intentionally published with the intent to slander Plaintiff’s lien, rights and interests to the Subject Property.”
One of the church’s agents caused the “release” to be published through recording in the office of the Clerk of the County Commission of WV, the complaint states.
The bank, among other court demands, stated, “The aforesaid conduct was fraudulent, oppressive and malicious, entitling Plaintiff to an award of punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the Defendants for their malicious conduct and to deter such misconduct in the future.
Fifth Third asks for their mortgage money, attorney fees, a jury trial and “punitive damages against Bernard Cremeans, Mark Shannon Manuel, DigiGreeters, LLC and the Church for their intentional and malicious acts of misconduct.
According to an article in the Charleston Gazette, Manuel stated that the debt had been paid off. He has called the bank’s lawsuit frivolous. Rev. Harper was one of four minister’s at the funeral of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd’s wife, Emma. He also spoke at an interfaith service during Gov. Manchin inauguration.
Manuel told the Gazette the suit is an attack on Harper and stated the bank and it’s attorneys will have to answer to a “higher law than equity in court.”
A response to the lawsuit by the Defendants has not yet been filed at Huntington’s federal court branch.
You can download a PDF of the bank’s complaint against the church by clicking HERE.
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Apolistic Life Church, Minister, Others Sued by Fifth Third
Defendant Mark Manuel Was Sued for Securities Fraud in Tennessee
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The trustees and minister of Apostolic Life Cathedral have been sued by Fifth Third Bank for defaulting on a $900,000 loan. However, the complaint alleges fraud, civil conspiracy, unauthorized practice of law and interference with a contractual relationship.
Ed Harper, the church’s pastor resigned Friday, Dec. 17, as a members of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.
NON CHURCH DEFENDANT FACES SECURITIES FRAUD FEDERAL SUIT IN TENNESSEE FOR PONZI SCHEME
Also named as a defendant, a Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee company , DigiGreeters and its owner, Mark Shannon Manuel.
The company and its owner was also named in a 2008 Tennessee Middle District Court complaint for securities fraud. The complaint alleges that Mark and Greg Manuel created Mpire Holdings as a ponzi investment scheme which allegedly induced Christians to invest their life savings. They were allegedly involved in a company called MRT FOREX, which allegedly scammed up to 50 million dollars from investors.
The complaint filed May 30, 2008, named MPire Holdings, LLC, MRT, LLC (a.k.a. MRI Holdings), The Momentum Group, Mark, Greg and Mike Manuel and James Clements as defendants.
Greg Manuel based on the complaint, is a resident of Franklin, Tennessee and Pastor of Community Life Fellowship Church. Greg Manuel “promotes himself as not only an evangelist but a distinguished entrepreneur and business development consultant.”
Proceeding pro se, the Manuels’ filed a counterclaim in the Mpire Holdings case. On December 23, Tennessee magistrate judge John Bryant recommended that the defenses and counterclaim “amount to legal nonsense wholly lacking in legal merit.” Download a PDF of the Magistrate’s Recommendation by clicking here.
THE TENNESSEE COMPLAINT
Defendants “targeted” plaintiff as an “unsuspecting investor… and fraudulently induced her to place the money she received for the loss of her leg with MRT and MPIRE --- both of which are believed to somehow be connected and to operate what amounts as an illegal ponzi scheme,” the complaint states.
The Tennessee complaint alleged that defendants became aware that Plaintiff Debbie Smith received a monetary settlement for negligent medical treatment that led to the amputation of her leg. Mark Manuel allegedly approached Debbie Smith with a “one of a kind GOD THING investment opportunity known as MRT. Ms. Smith had been working with Mike Manuel in producing a country music CD. The couple invested $200,000 and within three months their account registered a zero balance. Later, the complaint indicated the account was corrected to show about $219,000 as a balance, but Debbie Smith could not withdraw her funds. As part of the allegations a misleading promissory note was involved.
Count of the federal complaint allege fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract by selling and not disclosing the sale of “unregistered securities and operating what amounted to an illegal pyramid scheme.” You can view the 34 page complaint against the Manuels for the alleged ponzi scheme through this pdf download.
APOSTOLIC LIFE COMPLAINT
The church’s note matured on June 30, 2009. On September 9, 2009, a Notice of Correction to Deed of Trust prepared by Mark Shannon Manuel was recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the Cabell Commission. The release of Mortgage /Note had been prepared by DigiGreeters, LLC.
Fifth Third alleges that the statements were “were naturally and commonly to be interpreted as denying, disparaging and casting doubt on Plaintiff’s legal rights and interests in and to the Subject Property, were so understood, were willfully and intentionally published with the intent to slander Plaintiff’s lien, rights and interests to the Subject Property.”
One of the church’s agents caused the “release” to be published through recording in the office of the Clerk of the County Commission of WV, the complaint states.
The bank, among other court demands, stated, “The aforesaid conduct was fraudulent, oppressive and malicious, entitling Plaintiff to an award of punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the Defendants for their malicious conduct and to deter such misconduct in the future.
Fifth Third asks for their mortgage money, attorney fees, a jury trial and “punitive damages against Bernard Cremeans, Mark Shannon Manuel, DigiGreeters, LLC and the Church for their intentional and malicious acts of misconduct.
According to an article in the Charleston Gazette, Manuel stated that the debt had been paid off. He has called the bank’s lawsuit frivolous. Rev. Harper was one of four minister’s at the funeral of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd’s wife, Emma. He also spoke at an interfaith service during Gov. Manchin inauguration.
Manuel told the Gazette the suit is an attack on Harper and stated the bank and it’s attorneys will have to answer to a “higher law than equity in court.”
A response to the lawsuit by the Defendants has not yet been filed at Huntington’s federal court branch.
You can download a PDF of the bank’s complaint against the church by clicking HERE.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
