Maryland Community Newspapers Online
An Oxon Hill business is facing allegations that it has been defrauding churches nationwide by sticking worship centers with exorbitant bills for computer kiosks it placed in parish halls.
According to a lawsuit filed by the Washington, D.C. attorney general's office on behalf of 43 churches in the city, the Urban Interfaith Network Inc. of Oxon Hill allegedly promised free kiosks to worship centers and then charged the religious groups thousands of dollars in leases for the devices.
Several leasing companies are also being sued for billing the churches for allegedly fraudulent leases set up by Urban Interfaith, according to the lawsuit. At least 27 Prince George's churches and three in Silver Spring are listed in court papers as customers of the company, though not all may be victims.
Urban Interfaith's customer list includes more than 580 churches nationwide.
No complaints have been made in Maryland, a spokeswoman for the state attorney general's office said.
One church in Washington, D.C., has lost $62,000 in the scam, according to the lawsuit, while three county clergy members confirmed that some local churches have lost money on the kiosks.
"We've been fortunate, but a number of my colleagues are having problems," said the Rev. Jonathan Weaver, pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church in Bowie, who has been working with county churches allegedly taken by the kiosk scheme. "I am absolutely appalled."
No telephone number could be found for Urban Interfaith, which had addresses in Oxon Hill and Temple Hills, according to court papers. The company is owned by Willie Perkins of Washington, D.C., and Michael J. Morris of Waldorf.
Reached by phone Friday, Perkins referred questions to his attorney.