U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

SA Steve Lazarus
Phone:_ (404) 679-6368 (O), (404) 392-4098 (C)
Atlanta, Georgia

January 29, 2004

Press Release

Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Swecker, FBI Atlanta, is requesting the public's assistance in locating ABRAHAM L. KENNARD._ Recipients of this press release should also have received a press release from U.S. Attorney's Office Public Officer Patrick Crosby regarding KENNARD's indictment on January 20, 2004._ Since that time, KENNARD has fled justice and is now considered a fugitive.

KENNARD was the principal subject named in a 91?count indictment, charging him and others with defrauding 1600 churches of nearly $9 million in an advance fee scheme._ KENNARD is charged with Mail Fraud and Money Laundering for orchestrating the fraud, which involved soliciting $3,000 to $18,000 from each victim church in return for the promise of grants or loans totalling $500,000 for each $3,000 invested._ Churches from 41 different states fell victim to KENNARD's scheme.

Photographs of KENNARD are attached._ As it is possible KENNARD is in the Northwest Georgia/South Central Tennessee area, we ask media outlets with affiliates in those areas to share this information as appropriate._ Anyone with information concerning ABRAHAM KENNARD's whereabouts is asked to contact the Atlanta FBI at (404) 679-9000.