Pastor Duped In Nigerian CUCon

MILFORD, Ct. - (08/12/05) -- The pastor for a now-defunct parishwas charged with defrauding Parda FCU and using the proceeds toparticipate in one of many so-called Nigerian Internet scams.Police said Victor Whitworth, 52, pastor at the now-closed VictoryTemple of the Church of God in Christ, in Waterbury, forged hisname on a check for $16,245, then used the money to participate inan e-mail scam that has cost victims millions of dollars. They saidhe sent checks to New York, Canada and Nigeria. Whitworth said hewas fooled into sending money to people claiming to be Nigeriangovernment officials who promised to donate money to hischurch.