Robert J. Freeman, a/k/a Dr. Shine, 54, and Jeffrey Mont, a/k/a J.J. Mont, 32, both of Indian Head were indicted on charges of obstructing court proceedings; and Freeman was also indicted for making false statements and falsifying records in bankruptcy proceedings.
The indictment was returned on Nov. 10 and unsealed on Nov. 24 when Freeman appeared in court in Greenbelt for his initial appearance. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Sparkman of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
“The role of the IRS-Criminal Investigation becomes even more important in financial cases due to the complex transactions that can take time to unravel,” stated Sparkman.“The indictment should serve as a warning to anyone who is contemplating committing such financial schemes that illegal activity will not go unnoticed.”
According to the five-count superseding indictment, Freeman purported to be a minister of Save the Seed Ministry, Inc., Save the Seed International Church, and Seed Faith International Church, which he incorporated in 1991, 2001 and 2003, respectively. From 2001 to 2006, Freeman allegedly used church funds to accumulate substantial assets that he concealed from the bankruptcy court when he sought a discharge of his debts from the court in 2005.
For example, in 2002, Freeman allegedly caused two Lincoln Town cars to be purchased in the names of two church members for more than $55,000. In 2003, Freeman allegedly caused a Mercedes Benz car to be purchased in the name of a third church member for almost $40,000. In July 2004, Freeman allegedly caused a $1.75 million residence on the Potomac River to be purchased in the name of a fourth church member.
The Maryland residence, located at 5200 Rivers Edge Place in Indian Head, comprised about 9,000 square feet, with a deep water pier, a 20,000 pound covered boat lift, a jetski lift, two, four-car garages, five fireplaces and a gym with steam room. The church member, however, eventually decided not to proceed with the purchase and Freeman allegedly caused a fifth church member to consummate the sale in Dec. 2004. Freeman and others, not the church member, lived in the residence.
In August and Oct. 2004, Freeman allegedly caused two Volkswagen Phaetons to be purchased in the name of two of the church members for more than $140,000. In June 2005, Freeman caused a Bentley Arnage vehicle and a Maybach vehicle to be purchased and leased, respectively, in the name of a church member for more than $340,000. In February 2006, Freeman allegedly caused another Mercedes Benz car to be purchased in the name of a church member for more than $68,000.
The indictment alleges that by Oct. 2005, Freeman and his then-spouse owed debts totaling more than $1.3 million, including $846,000 in back rent; more than $87,000 in lease payments on a jet airplane; more than $160,000 for payments on musical instruments; and $220,000 in loan payments on a bus. On Oct. 14, 2005 Freeman filed a bankruptcy petition seeking to adjust or discharge his debts. Freeman was required to disclose to the bankruptcy court all real or personal property, including property held by another that Freeman controlled.
The indictment alleges that Freeman lied to the bankruptcy court and obstructed its proceedings by not fully reporting his real or personal property, or property owned by another that Freeman controlled, including the home and luxury vehicles purchased with church funds.