Charlotte minister accused of real estate scheme

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some people are accusing a Charlotte minister, Jerry Woodruff, of going to churches and using religion to gain their trust and money.

Some know him as "Bishop" Woodruff.

Action 9 first investigated Woodruff about ten years ago.

In 2005, more than ten people came forward.  They told Action 9 they gave Woodruff money to help them find grants for their businesses, but believe it was a ploy to get their money.  They said Woodruff would play up his faith to make them feel more comfortable.

At the time, Woodruff denied doing anything wrong.

Woodruff told Action 9, "No, we're not a scam.  We wouldn't do something like that."

Years passed.  Mecklenburg County prosecutors told Action 9's Jason Stoogenke Woodruff started hitting up people for money to invest in bogus real estate ventures.  Investigators charged him with a felony in February of this year.  He ended up pleading guilty to a lesser charge, misdemeanor larceny, in June.

But the very same month, a new alleged victim, in the Charlotte area, says Woodruff was back at it.  He filed a police report and a complaint with the N.C. Attorney General, saying Woodruff convinced him to invest $20,000 in foreclosures, but that he was "swindled."

Beverly Thomas says she never gave Woodruff money-- that she didn't have any to invest-- but that she sent dozens of other people his way, much to her regret.

"He uses Jesus.  He uses God.  He uses Christ," she said.

Stoogenke asked her, "Do you think he's a con man or do you think he's a legitimate business man who just isn't very good at it?"

Thomas said, "No, he's a straight con man.  He's a straight con man that's good in business and he knows exactly what he's doing."

Now she keeps a laundry basket full of paperwork about Woodruff, documents she hopes investigators can one day use to put him behind bars.

Stoogenke contacted Woodruff to get his side of the story.  He responded after about a month and seemed willing to do an interview, if his lawyer could be with him.

Stoogenke agreed and asked multiple times for a date and time that works, but, almost three weeks later, had not heard back.

WSOC