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Jurors watched another videotape in which Gerald Payne told insiders of plans to buy one of the Grand Cayman islands, proclaim it an independent "ecclesiastical" nation, and defend it against any police agencies with a large arsenal they had secretly assembled. Greater Ministries solicited gifters to give money to purchase the island, to be called Greaterlands.

Attorney Dan Daly, who defended David Whitfield, told Christianity Today that the verdicts would be appealed. "The sufficiency of the government's evidence will certainly be in dispute," he said. "And the appellate court will have to pass on some First Amendment issues embedded in the case."

These issues were raised principally by Patrick Talbert, who has long been involved in anti-government movements. Talbert's attorney, John Kingston, said that Talbert and the other defendants were standing up for the freedom of Christians to believe and support their church as they choose, without government interference.

The elders are due to be sentenced in June.

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Weblog: Greater Ministries Found Guilty of 'One of the Largest Ponzi-Type Schemes Ever Investigated' (Mar. 13, 2001)

Defrauding the Faithful | If convicted, Greater Ministries defendants face massive fines, prison terms. (Feb. 8, 2001)

$100 Million Missing in Greater Ministries Scandal (Oct. 4, 1999)

Federal Authorities Collar Greater Ministry Leaders | Accusations include fraud, money laundering. (Apr. 26, 1999)

Judge Orders Gift Refunds | Greater Ministries found in contempt of court. (Mar. 1, 1999)

A Gospel Gold Mine or a Sinking Pyramid? | Greater Ministries International promises eye-popping returns, but investigators suspect a Ponzi. (Jan. 11, 1999)

Greater Ministries International Church has an official Web site, with a feature called Legal Eagle that follows the ministries court proceedings. The page claims that Greater Ministries has helped poor and starving people worldwide and bailed out several churches in debt.

The Tampa Tribune offers many past Greater Ministries news stories.

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April 23 2001, Vol. 45, No. 6