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TBN extravagance? Read internal memos for yourself
NOTE: The .pdf files below are no longer available. I'm sorry, folks, that I failed to get a copy of them in time but I wonder why Teri Sforza removed them? Why is everything inside TBN being covered up? WHY is pertinent information being removed from the internet? -Admin-
Writer: Teri Sforza | 20 May 2012 | www.ocregister.com
We've been telling you about the charges leveled by the granddaughter of Trinity Broadcasting Network's Paul and Jan Crouch, who accused the world's largest Christian broadcaster of playing fast and loose with the ministry's millions -- and then provided internal documents to back up her claims.
Trinity accused her of the true financial misdeeds, called her assertions nonsense, and tried to keep the internal documents she possessed under wraps. They were stolen, and may have been altered, Trinity says.
We've been bringing you stories based on Brittany Koper's 180-page declaration (Confidential memo: ‘TBN practices … violate the IRS Code' and Extravagant spending a pervasive issue for Trinity, internal review says) for the past few days, but we hadn't posted the full Koper document, as it's quite large.
There have been repeated requests for it from various corners over the past week, and so, after wrestling with Adobe Acrobat and WordPress, we've broken it into pieces. You can read the documents yourself by clicking on the links below (and if you don't see the document on the first try, hit "reload," and that usually does the trick):
NOTE: the following .pdf files are missing from the original source at OC Register, and I failed to retrieve the files before they were removed. -Admin-
Pages 1-34 from Brittany Koper Declaration (taxdollars.ocregister.com/files/2012/05/Pages-1-34-from-Brittany-Koper-Declaration.pdf)
Pages 35-69 from Brittany Koper Declaration (taxdollars.ocregister.com/files/2012/05/Pages-35-69-from-Brittany-Koper-Declaration.pdf)
Pages from Pages 70-104 from Brittany Koper Declaration (taxdollars.ocregister.com/files/2012/05/Pages-from-Pages-70-104-from-Brittany-Koper-Declaration.pdf)
Pages 105-130 from Brittany Koper Declaration (taxdollars.ocregister.com/files/2012/05/Pages-105-130-from-Brittany-Koper-Declaration.pdf)
Pages 131- 157 from Brittany Koper Declaration (taxdollars.ocregister.com/files/2012/05/Pages-131-157from-Brittany-Koper-Declaration.pdf)
Pages 158-180 from Brittany Koper Declaration (taxdollars.ocregister.com/files/2012/05/Pages-158-180-from-Brittany-Koper-Declaration-2.pdf)
There have been a great deal of jaw-dropping allegations in suits related to this one, including that Trinity purchased a $50 million jet through "a sham loan to an alter ego corporation" for the personal use of the Crouches; a $100,000 motor home purchased by Trinity as a mobile residence for Jan Crouch's dogs; "multiple residential estates" falsely reported as guest homes or church parsonages to avoid income disclosures; meal expenses of up to ahalf-million dollars per company director; "personal chauffeurs compensated with Trinity funds under the guise of medical payments;" and "multiple cover-ups of sexual and criminal scandals." (Details in Suit: ‘Cover-ups of sexual and criminal scandals' at TBN)
Koper also accused the world's largest Christian broadcaster of unlawfully distributing charitable assets worth more than $50 million to the company's directors.
Trinity Christian Center, which does business as TBN, is a nonprofit in the eyes of Uncle Sam, which means it doesn't pay taxes on its income. It reported
– revenues of $175.6 million (including donor contributions of $92.5 million),
– expenses of $193.7 million,
– and net assets of $827.6 million at the end of 2010, according to its tax returns.
– Its highest-paid officer was Paul Crouch, with compensation of $400,000.
Losing its tax-exempt status has been the big concern voiced in the documents Koper furnished -- which could cost Trinity tens of millions of dollars each year if it came to pass.
Jan Crouch has called TBN Jesus' TV station, and thanked its donors for keeping it on the air.
Court Documents from TBN's Whistleblower Granddaughter Released
Source: www.ministrywatch.com/
The Orange County Register Newspaper has been closely following the developments regarding TBN. Recently, it obtained court documents in a case involving Brittany Koper, the Crouch's granddaughter, just prior to them being sealed and published them on its website. These documents include internal TBN memos, receipts and reports from TBN's accountants detailing improper and likely illegal acts. In our opinion, it is likely the leadership of TBN will ultimately be replaced as a result of these revelations and some of the leadership team could possibly spend time behind bars. While the wheels of justice grind slowly, they do tend to grind finely. It may take quite some time before new leadership is appointed, but it will be near impossible for TBN's leaders to successfully defend themselves from IRS and FCC regulators. Accordingly, we call on leaders in the evangelical community to begin to prepare to assemble a new leadership team that could be presented to the regulators as a replacement. TBN is an attractive asset to the global church, therefore serious efforts should be made to preserve it and manage it in accordance with laws and regulations. Under stronger evangelical leadership, TBN could win more souls to Christ, effectively disciple millions with legitimate Christian teaching and bring honor to the Lord. We believe it would be wise for a new, respected leadership team to be assembled now and presented to the IRS and FCC as an alternative to other outcomes which would see the church lose control of this strategic asset.
The court documents containing the info noted above can be found at:
1. Widespread abuse of ministry funds by TBN directors including having the ministry pay for numerous personal expenses. Lavish meals, motorcycles and home remodeling were just a few of the expenses charged to the ministry. Brittany Koper claims she was told to invent business reasons for these many personal expenses to cover up the actual personal use of ministry funds.