Self-appointed pastor indicted on federal mail fraud charges

NORFOLK

Federal postal inspectors on Friday arrested a self-proclaimed pastor on a 28-count federal indictment charging him with bilking thousands of investors out of $1.5 million.

Benjamin Seigler, 43, of Pall Mall Street made an initial appearance Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court and was allowed to go free as soon as he could have an electronic monitoring device attached. His case was set for arraignment Wednesday.

Federal authorities have said Seigler bilked about 4,000 investors from around the world. Seigler promised them that a $42 investment could yield as much as $154,000 in 90 days, according to court filings by U.S. postal inspectors.

According to investors, he often quoted Scripture in his telephone sales pitches. He also identified himself as a preacher on financial records, but his church address is his apartment, the court records say.

The Virginian-Pilot first reported on Seigler’s activities last month when postal inspectors seized Seigler’s mail and stopped him from receiving any more investments.

Some investors told The Pilot that Seigler took in millions, but none received any of the promised payouts. He told customers he invests in programs including insurance, mutual funds, diamonds and gold, according to the court filings, but officials now say he invested nothing for anyone.

Seigler instead amassed $1 million in a local credit union account and used proceeds to pay his rent, purchase Christmas gifts, buy three automobiles and put $5,000 down on a new house, according to court records. He also invested in gold bullion and in a Tennessee technology company.

The postal inspectors have seized more than $1.3 million from Seigler’s accounts and his home, as well as three vehicles and $6,000 worth of computers and electronics. They said they hope they have about $1.5 million to repay the investors.

Seigler and his attorney have declined to comment during recent weeks.

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com