A San Bernardino pastor and former city council candidate, Terrance Owens Elliott, 60, of Crestline, has been arrested on a federal indictment involving 11 counts of wire fraud. The charges come after allegations that Elliott defrauded long-time friends and a nonprofit organization of over $230,000 between October 2019 and February 2023.
Elliott, also known as “Tony Elliott,” allegedly misrepresented himself as being affiliated with the San Bernardino city government and police department, using these false claims to manipulate and deceive victims. In one instance, he convinced a victim, referred to as “M.C.,” to place inheritance funds into a trust under the guise that it would protect their Medicare and Social Security benefits.
Once M.C. entrusted the funds to Elliott, he fraudulently altered the trust agreement to gain sole financial control, misusing the funds for personal expenses such as vehicle repairs, clothing, and even church rent. Additionally, Elliott accessed M.C.’s bank account, transferring $27,164 in unauthorized funds.
After M.C.’s death, Elliott allegedly misled “W.H.” into covering $8,615 in funeral expenses and tricked the victim into loaning an additional $65,000 to the trust under false pretenses. Instead of using the loan for the trust, Elliott used blank checks from W.H.’s corporation to make unauthorized payments to a church and cover his personal expenses.
Between September 2018 and June 2021, Elliott also targeted a nonprofit organization, fraudulently claiming it owed money for litigation services, causing the nonprofit and its affiliated church to lose approximately $23,300.
In total, Elliott’s fraudulent activities caused victims to lose around $238,563. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud.
Elliott’s arrest highlights the devastating impact of trust fraud, particularly when a trusted community leader abuses their position for personal gain. The case is still under investigation, and further details may arise.
