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Kirbyjon Caldwell shares the seven-year journey from head of a mega church, Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, to an indictment for defrauding investors of $3.5 million, to a return as a lay pastor.
The saga began when, in a historical move, Caldwell paid over $1 million in restitution plus $600,000 in investor fees before being indicted. He was later sentenced to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud on March 11, 2020. On June 22, 2021, he reported to the Federal Correctional Institution, a low-security facility in Beaumont, Texas.
While Caldwell was released from prison in September 2024, that release was to home confinement. He recently completed his full prison term on July 31, 2025.
The uniqueness of Caldwell’s conversation with the Houston Defender reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings about the past, with him reflecting on his journey from indictment to serving time in prison.
Reflecting on his journey
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Defender: Please walk us through the events that led to your conviction.
Kirbyjon Caldwell: I made some mistakes. The primary mistake I made was not doing a sufficient job of vetting the product, the process, the people and all of that. During the press conference I held, I had in my right hand about 14 or 15 documents, and I said, I am not guilty because I have 16 contracts in my hand signed by individuals or institutions who have promised to buy the bonds. Little did I know that if a contract does not have a performance date in it, it is not an enforceable agreement. I had 16 agreements, none of which had enforceable contracts. I did not know that. So here we are today.
Defender: When you think of those harmed, emotionally or financially, what did you do to settle up, and what did you say to them?
KC: I accept full responsibility for my actions. It was never my intent to hurt or harm anyone; that was expressed specifically in the fact that I paid everybody back. Before my indictment, I refunded slightly over $1 million to those who requested their money back. And prior to sentencing, I paid full restitution to the investors/victims — my half of the restitution and my co-defendant’s portion of the restitution. I then paid investors slightly over $600,000. That represents the fees that some investors incurred when they pulled money out of their accounts to invest in this deal. It took every penny that I had to do it, but I did it.
The man today
Defender: What’s been the most surprising challenge or joy you’ve encountered since re-entering public life?
KC: One of our local television affiliates reported on the $3.6 million fraud case. They did not report that I paid everybody back. But what I could not wrap my mind around was why they wanted to say, I stole money from elderly members of the church. Now I understand they’ve since printed a retraction. My Achilles heel, my soft spot is for elderly and members. What kind of preacher would steal from his members? Elderly? Man, that’s not me. And it just hurt my heart.
Defender: What impact has this chapter in your life had on your family, especially your children?
KC: The most painful days in Beaumont were missing the birthdays of my family membersYou don’t get that back. Thanksgivings, those are painful too. But the Lord blessed me to see another Thanksgiving. Graduations, you don’t get those back. My daughter made a statement once while I was in Beaumont that seared my soul. She said, “Daddy, one of the things that I regret most about you being in Beaumont is that you are missing the opportunity to watch me become a young lady.” So, as you can see, those were the tough parts.
The road ahead
Defender: What’s next for Kirbyjon Caldwell?
KC: First of all, I’m working on a book — books actually. In terms of my involvement here in the city, I will be doing a lot of preaching and a lot of teaching. I’m going to be very involved in the community. So, at the end of the day, we are going to do all we can to impact, in a positive way, and uplift the community going forward as we have in the past.
This story originally appeared here.
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