They could literally make millions of dollars without ever going to prison, just like these fucking fake church preaching charlatans have been doing for centuries; it's the easiest scam ever, and there's so much money in it.

One of them even received a $70 million jet thanks to the donations of his followers.
“Creflo Dollar, a televangelist and leader of the World Changers Church based in Georgia is one example of the pastor/con-artist persona. Dollar recently petitioned members of his church for donations to prove how faithful they are so he could buy a $70 million private jet “in order to fulfill the mission of the ministry.” The 30,000 members delivered, completely playing into what’s known as prosperity theology, or the idea that giving one’s own money to the church will result in the subsequent flourishing of personal wealth.”

Kenneth Coplan is another one of these fucking phoney preacher, who owns a $6 million lakeside mansion and only travels in his Gulfstream V private jet, which costs millions of dollars and his reason for it “ you can’t talk to God while flying commercial.”

If I were the boss of a family, I'd order all of the members to seize all operations and become pastors.

To much money to be made.

Lou, can i count on you to come visit my church and help with the flock?

We need to make sure everyone hears about this scam and keep our Crew i mean flock… safe and sound for us…i mean our flock.

Jim Bakker was the OG.

You hit it on the head,Louie. Luxury mansions,private jets,expensive cars,and a wardrobe that would've made John Gotti look like he bought off the rack at Target.
Tens of millions in revenue,some in cash,but a lot of it in Credit Cards and checks. Some people even leave these guys money in their wills,others sign up for automatic billing every month.

Best of all,thanks to the 1st Amendment,as long as it's for the benefit of the "Ministry". it's all tax free.

So in a way,the preachers and the Mob have one thing in common. The mob also uses a constitutional Amendment (the 5th) as a shield.
If I make a $5,000 dollar donation, and i win the Lottery a week later,the Preacher can use that to leverage even more donations from the flock. If on the other hand, I don't see any returns on my money.It's God's will.

To me they're all scumbags,but I think the worst are the Faith"healers". These jag offs prey on the most vulnerable,desperate victims who give their last dollar to some piece of sh#t, so that they,or worse their terminally ill kid, can be healed by the blood of Jeeeeeeesus!!

So I'll make these guys a deal: Heal an amputee,a blind person,or a kid with Down's Syndrome on your TV show,or take a walk through St. Jude's or Shriner's hospital and heal some of those kids,and I will sell my house,clean out my IRA,and send you every penny,as well as signing up for an automatic deduction of 25% from every paycheck I earn for the rest of my life.

No on encroaches on Jimmy Swaggarts territory, big trouble if they do

That's actually what that mobster Bobby Luisi did. After he ratted on the Philly Mob, he went down south and became a televangelist names Angelo Esposito. Turned to Jesus in the can apparently.