Arlington Resident Indicted for Wire Fraud and Identity Theft Charges

An Arlington, Texas resident with ties to several Arlington and Mansfield churches was indicted for alleged conduct related to a scheme to defraud through his church-related entities, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

Richard Reinaldo Garcia, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth on June 2, for one count of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

"The defendant allegedly took advantage of his victims' faith by promising significant profits through investment opportunities but instead used their funds to selfishly enrich himself at their expense," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "We will not stand idly by while North Texans fall victim to these unscrupulous schemes, and my office will work hard to seek out and prosecute those that commit these types of crimes."

"The FBI remains committed to investigating those who misuse positions of trust to further fraudulent investment schemes. The FBI encourages anyone who may be a victim to access the Seeking Victims page on our website," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.

According to the indictment, from August 2021 through April 2025, Garcia and others allegedly made false material misstatements based, in part, on the promise of significant profits for his victims. The misstatements, among other things, induced victims to enter into agreements and provide funds for "church flipping" real estate improvement projects and "joint venture" agreements to host Christian music concerts and other church programs. Garcia then allegedly used victim funds to pay for his own personal expenses and business operating expenses.

The indictment alleges that Garcia controlled bank accounts in church-related entity names, such as Ministerio Gracia, Iglesia Gracia de Texas, Gracia Church of Texas, and Pesar de Todo, LLC ("relevant entity names"). Garcia allegedly directed several victims to transfer their funds to accounts held in these relevant entity names and to label the funds as "donations" for Gracia Church, when in reality, the funds were solicited for use in the relevant fraudulent scheme. According to the indictment, over 50 victims across the United States and internationally paid over $3.2 million to Garcia as a result of his scheme to defraud.

The case is set for trial in Fort Worth on Oct. 13. If convicted, Garcia faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud, conspiracy and wire fraud, and a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft count.

The FBI requests that if you or someone you know is a potential victim of this alleged fraudulent scheme, please go to one of the websites listed below for additional information and click on the link to fill out the "Seeking Information Questionnaire."

English version: fbi.gov/GraciaChurchvictims

Spanish version: fbi.gov/GraciaChurchVictimsEspanol

The FBI's Fort Worth Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac McDonald is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.