Former PCA Youth Pastor on FBI’s Most Wanted List
Aside from Perimeter Church’s reputation for being the source of much woke rhetoric and spawning several church plants populated by critical race theorists, despite being a member of the conservative Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), the 5000-member Georgia megachurch also has a new claim to fame; having a former youth pastor on the FBI’s Most Wanted List.
Christopher Burns was a youth pastor at Perimeter Church who later stepped down to become a financial planner. According to reports:
Prosecutors allege that for years, Burns lived a double life, swindling approximately $10 million from dozens of investors in a years-long Ponzi scheme that spanned three states. Under the guise of a “peer-to-peer” lending program with high-interest promissory notes, Burns allegedly used the money to fund his lavish lifestyle—which included a boat and numerous trips to Disney World.
But the day before Burns was scheduled to hand over documents related to his businesses as part of an ongoing civil investigation, (in 2020) the 40-year-old vanished without a trace. In his wake, Burns left behind a slew of angry investors out millions of dollars, unanswered questions, and a family left to pick up the pieces.
His son Phillip, who was 15 years old when his father vanished two years ago, told the Daily Beast:
“I have [had] to rethink my entire life. He was my role model. It hurts so much that he left that day. I believe he is still out there somewhere… but [he] is not a part of our family and our lives anymore.”
If captured and charged he woud have to repay $12 million to his victims, civil penalties of nearly $650,000, and could face as many as 20 years in prison.
About Author
I remember when the most wanted list was made up entirely of really violent criminals, and didn’t include anyone wanted for mail fraud. The current list is obviously an indication of how successful the FBI has been in fighting violent crime. 😉
Surprised that a charge of assault of a minor wasn’t tacked on to increase the severity of his flight. 😏