A FORMER PRAYER GROUP LEADER FROM RIO RANCHO WILL HAVE TO PAY BACK MORE THAN 75-THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT HE STOLE FROM GROUP MEMBERS. SIXTY-SIX YEAR OLD FELIX FERNANDO WILL ALSO SERVE THREE YEARS PROBATION AS PART OF HIS SENTENCE FOR WIRE FRAUD.
THE U.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICE SAYS FERNANDO TOLD THE GROUP THAT MONEY WAS EVIL AND THAT MIRACLES WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY GAVE HIM THEIR MONEY. ONE PERSON WIRED 35-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FERNANDO’S BANK ACCOUNT. FERNANDO TOLD MEMBERS THE MONEY WOULD BE GIVEN TO PEOPLE IN NEED…BUT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY HE KEPT IT ALL FOR HIMSELF.
