Why Were the Only Convictions Against Word of Faith Members for Unemployment Fraud?
True Crime Today | Daily True Crime News & Interviews
Tony Brueski
4.2 • 612 Ratings
🗓️ 22 May 2026
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
For over four decades, former members of the Word of Faith Fellowship have tried to hold the church accountable through every available channel — journalists, law enforcement, social services, federal prosecutors, the courts. According to those who lived it, the system failed at every turn. Jane Whaley’s 2004 assault conviction was overturned after five years of appeals. More than forty former members gave testimony to the SBI in the 1990s. No charges resulted. Inside Edition investigated in 1995. The church survived. DSS opened child abuse investigations. The church sued the department and won. Former members told the AP that the church orchestrated a cover-up strategy in which congregants were pressured into lying to investigators and recanting prior statements. Church leaders and followers reportedly gave at least eighty-five thousand dollars to state politicians, according to WRAL’s analysis. Members volunteered at campaign events for Donald Trump, according to the New York Times. The local Republican Party in Rutherford County was allegedly taken over by people connected to the fellowship. Matthew Fenner’s criminal case stalled for over eight years following a 2017 mistrial. A special prosecutor took over the case in 2026. The only convictions secured: unemployment fraud. Tony Brueski closes a five-part investigation with the systems that were supposed to protect victims — and reportedly failed them for more than forty years.
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Transcript
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| 1:01.8 | Hi, it's Joe and Zoe here from Digget and we're currently sponsored by QVC. If you're thinking about giving your garden a bit of a refresh, This is very good timing. My garden scape at |
| 1:12.0 | QVC is basically like having a whole garden centre, but at the touch of a button. Everything's there. |
| 1:17.5 | Furniture, plants, tools, lighting, all in one place. I rather like the look of their Studio 70 |
| 1:23.7 | collection. It's got this very lovely retro feel to it. Yeah, if you sort of think bold |
| 1:28.1 | colours, striped sofas, loungers, it is giving proper 70s revival. And my garden escape is, |
| 1:35.2 | it's not just for big gardens either. It's for balconies, it's for windowsills, whatever |
| 1:38.9 | you've got. Plus, they've got advice from expert gardeners available through their online hub |
| 1:44.0 | and streaming platform, |
| 1:45.6 | so you're not just guessing what to do. |
... |
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