Former Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell (above middle) who served as spiritual advisor to former President Barack Obama (Democrat) and former President George W. Bush (Republican) was sentenced to six years in prison earlier this week by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. over in Shreveport Louisiana. “They trusted me with their money, and I abused that trust,” said the broken former Pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church. “I misled them, I profited at their expense, and for that I am very sorry,” he went on to say. “As a result of my actions, good people lost hard-earned money. Retirement funds were used, mortgages and other important bills went unpaid, and things that the victims wanted to do for their families and friends just went undone,” said Kirbyjon Caldwell. And shortly after receiving his six year prison sentence his church responded with a statement talking in part about his dedication to the community over the years. “We’re very disappointed that Caldwell’s contributions to society and his extraordinary efforts to make every victim whole resulted in [this] sentence,” stated Floyd J. LeBlanc, who serves as chairman of Windsor Village’s personnel committee. He went on to say, “We look to God because we believe God has a final answer in everything.” What was LeBlanc talking about? Well, in case you don’t know, under Kirbyjon Caldwell’s leadership, Windsor Village United Methodist Church grew from roughly 25 members back in the 1980s to a robust congregation with more than 16,000 members today. All of that’s fine and dandy, but did you know that, according to the indictment, Kirbyjon used the alias “Turner Hines” when he was communicating with investors and trying to keep them calm. Or what about the fact that Kirbyjon Caldwell actually used his influence as a pastor to make the whole thing work. Make no mistake about it, without Kirbyjon Caldwell the victims would have never fallen for this scheme in the first place. In fact, some of the victims of the scheme spoke directly to Kirbyjon Caldwell about the failed deals as they grew more and more concerned. And believe it or not, he repeatedly told his victims to remain faithful and that they would receive their money – that’s why United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. gave Kirbyjon Caldwell six years in prison for the crimes he committed.
The Bonds Kirbyjon Sold to his Victims Were Nothing More than Memorabilia with No More Value Than Monopoly Money
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
Have you ever sat down and played a game of monopoly with your family and friends? Don’t you know that you can’t go out and use that money to buy real estate in the real world? Well, like it or not, that’s what the former pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church did to his victims – who were not members of his local congregation I might add. And in case you haven’t heard, he’s going to pay a hefty price for his misdeeds. Early this week, Kirbyjon Caldwell was given six years in prison for his role in the fraudulent multi-million dollar scheme that no doubt has left more than a few people questioning their faith – and searching for more answers than those being given by the mainstream media and the church body – if you ask me. And to make matters even worse, I don’t even think that Kirbyjon Caldwell would have been brought to justice for his crimes if his case his case would have been held here in Harris County, Texas. I know that a lot of folks are not going to be happy with me saying that -- but it's true. If his case would not have been held in another state, where his powerful local allies were not able to play ball and try to influence the outcome and help this well-known pastor skirt the long-hand of the law -- we may have seen a much different ruling -- I'm just saying.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
PHONE: (832)212-8735
CELL: (281)788-3033
The indictment against Kirbyjon Caldwell was filed back on March 29, 2018, and clearly shows how this one-time very respected leader in the Black community basically used his position as pastor of one of the largest congregations in America to encourage his victims to remain faithful.
A lot of local folks are dumbfounded by the six year prison sentence that was imposed on Kirbyjon Caldwell a judge over in Shreveport, Louisiana. Some people are calling it a death sentence on Caldwell, since he now has cancer and could be exposed to COVID-19 and all. However, when you look at the details of the indictment from back on 3/20/2018, it will become evidently clear that Kirbyjon Caldwell knew exactly what he was doing – especially now that he’s finally stopped fighting and has come to the realization that a prison bed will undoubtedly be a part of his future.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
PHONE: (832)212-8735
CELL: (281)788-3033
Former President Barack Obama was not involved in this scheme in any way, shape, or form. His name is only being used in media reports because of his close ties to Kirbyjon Caldwell back when he was President of these United States of America.
According to the indictment, from at least April 2013 until August 2014, Caldwell and Smith (his partner in crime) offered and sold at least 29 investors participation rights in various historical or Pre-revolutionary Chinese Bonds which Caldwell claimed to won, control or posses. In some cases, Kirbyjon Caldwell and his partner in crime told the investors that their funds would be used to purchase the bonds. And once the investor agreed to invest in the worthless bonds, it was Kirbyjon Caldwell who instructed the investor (not his partner in crime) to wire transfer payment to either a bank account controlled by his attorney or an account in the name of LDT, a Wyoming limited liability company whos only members were Kirbyjon Caldwell and his wife, Suzette T. Caldwell. According to the indictment, immediately after the investor sent the money, Kirbyjon Caldwell would cause the funds to be transferred to personal accounts belonging to him (Kirbyjon Caldwell) and his partner in crime (Gregory Alan Smith) or his Mexican business associate.
Former President George W. Bush was not involved in Kirbyjon Caldwell's scheme in any way, shape, or form. Just like in the case of former President Barack Obama, his name is also only being used in media reports because of his close ties to Kirbyjon Caldwell back when he was President of these United States of America.
According to the indictment, Kirbyjon Caldwell and his partner in crime both told the investors that the worthless Chinese bonds were worth tens, if not hundreds, or millions of dollars. However, neither of them disclosed to the investors that the bonds were in default and held no liquid market value. And get this, neither Caldwell, or his partner in crime never told the investors that they would be using their hard-earned money to pay for their own personal expenses. That being said, according to the indictments, the investors didn’t understand the investments but only trusted Gregory Alan Smith, because of his connection to former Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell. And under their participation agreement, expectation of a return on their investment was based solely upon Caldwell’s ability to sell the bonds to a third party purchaser. As a matter of fact, many of the participation agreements between Kirbyjon Caldwell, his partner in crime, and the investors expressly stated that Caldwell was in control and possession of the bonds and that he planned to sell the bonds to third party purchasers.
Based on information in the indictment, for the better part of a year or so, Kirbyjon Caldwell and his partner in crime continued to send emails and texts promising their investors that they would be paid. And in doing so, in most of the emails and texts, the pair provided their investors in the worthless Chinese bonds elaborate explanations for why Kirbyjon Caldwell had not be able to sell the bonds. Their excuses ranged from issues pertaining to international currency exchanges to failures of international organizations like the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank to approve the redemptions. Are you beginning to see now why the judge out of Shreveport, Louisiana gave Kirbyjon Caldwell six years in prison?
In other emails and texts, Kirbyjon Caldwell, and his partner in crime promised that an alleged prospective buyer was interested in purchasing or redeeming the bonds, and that the deal would be closed within a short period of time. However, according to the indictment, none of these deals transpired.
Former Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell is a master communicator. However, he was not able to use his ties to former Presidents of the United States, faith, or money to wiggle his way out of being given a six year prison sentence by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. over in Shreveport Louisiana.
TOLD VICTIMS TO BE FAITHFUL
What a lot of folks don’t know about this whole scheme is that Kirbyjon Caldwell actually used his influence as a pastor to make the whole thing work. Without him, the victims would have never fallen for this scheme in the first place. In fact, some of the victims of the scheme spoke directly to Kirbyjon Caldwell about the failed deals as they grew more and more concerned. And believe it or not, he repeatedly told his victims to remain faithful and that they would receive their money according to the indictment against him and his partner in crime. And it didn’t stop there – he also used religious references in his lulling emails to give investors hope that they would soon be repaid. He, also sometimes used the alias “Turner Hines” when he was communicating with investors.
When first confronted with the charges, Kirbyjon Caldwell denied that he’d done anything wrong as he, and his powerful friends in Houston, Texas basically tried to paint the indictment as some sort of vendetta against Kirbyjon Caldwell – you know, like people were just out to get him or something. And up until he finally pleaded guilty back in 2020, he maintained his innocence and stuck to his guns for the better part of two years. “As we move forward, the truth will prevail,” Kibyjon Caldwell is quoted as saying. However, his prophecy did not come true, as a brave judge in Shreveport, Louisiana basically rendered a death sentence of the former pastor who served as spiritual advisors to former President Barack Obama (Democrat), and former President George W. Bush (Republican) with the six year prison sentence he imposed on Caldwell for his role in the nearly $3.5 million fraudulent Chinese bond investment scheme. I don’t know, maybe Kirbyjon Caldwell, and his allies thought that they were playing ball in Harris County, Texas where a little “JUDGE SHOPPING” could have allowed his case to appear before a judge who knows how much his community work has benefited local communities and change many lives. Nope!!! The bold judge over in Shreveport, Louisiana wasn’t having any of it. And neither was the DOJ, who claimed that Kirbyjon Caldwell received somewhere in the neighborhood of $900,000 that he used for his own personal gain. According to the DOJ, he used his ill-gotten cash to pay down debts, mortgages, credit cards, and maintain his lavish lifestyle.
In fact, Acting United States Attorney Alexander Van Hook said in a published report, “The defendants in this case abused the trust that the victims had placed in them.” He went on to say, “This defendant used his status as the pastor of a megahurch to help convince the many victim investors that they were making a legitimate investment but instead he took their hard-earned money from them and used it for his own personal gain. This office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who scheme and prey upon the elderly and others.”
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
PHONE: (832)212-8735
CELL: (281)788-3033
THE BRAINS
I’m the President/CEO of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper©. In case you don’t know, I have 30-years of experience in marketing, branding, investigative reporting, public relations, opposition research, and political consulting. I’ve assisted in branding Republican and Democratic candidates in statewide elections and local municipalities throughout the State of Texas. Over the years, I’ve also assisted in branding and marketing (through my various publications) such corporations and institutions as Shell Oil, The City of Houston, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Chevron, Waste Management, Nationwide Insurance, Momentum Jaguar/BMW, Channel 11, Channel 13, State Farm Insurance, and Allstate Insurance to name a few.
EXPERIENCED REPORTER
I would have you to know that not everyone who has been accused of a crime or enters a guilty plea in connection with a crime is guilty of the crime they're accused of committing. Neither is everyone who goes to trial to fight charges that are leveled against them and get's convicted are guilty. Look, over the years, some very bad things have happened to people of color in our criminal justice system. So to this end, please understand, that during my career, I’ve gone into the Harris County Jail and Texas prisons on numerous occasions (on secret assignments) working in conjunction with the owner of one of the largest locally owned private security, and investigations firms. The man who was funding my investigations back then (who mysteriously died) also was the godfather of one of my sons, and the backer of one of my publications. That being said, I can straight-faced assure you that I’ve seen some of the injustices that are occurring in the Texas penal system up close and personal. While on the inside, I interviewed (face-to-face) some of the hardest criminals you can imagine for my research. I also discovered first-hand that many of the people who should be locked up are walking around free, and not all of those who are locked behind bars are guilty of the crimes that they, in some cases pleaded guilty to – for whatever reason. So, let me assure you that I know a criminal when I see one. And we have a handful of local elected officials who are straight-criminals and must be stopped!!!
PEOPLE OVER POLITICS
Based on my direct observations over the years, I can attest to the fact that our current criminal justice system is more about “HAVE’S AND HAVE NOT’S” to a greater degree than most people realize. That being said, sure, in some cases, the skin color of the person being accused of a crime plays a role in who gets indicted and eventually convicted of crimes and those who go free. However, at the end of the day, from observing the system from the inside, and out; having money, good legal representation and access to influential people are unfortunately key determining factors when it comes to who will spend the rest of their life walking around with an “X” on their back and who doesn’t. So, to this end, we must endeavor to change our criminal justice system and political landscape by “TAKING POLITICS OUT” of the way our judges are selected in the Lone Star State – that’s very important to me! Have you ever taken a moment to look at all of the people who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes?
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
PHONE: (832)212-8735
CELL: (281)788-3033
