A Bothell resident and Kirkland religious leader has been charged by federal authorities with leveraging his faith-based role to secure approximately $13 million in capital for a Bellevue-based digital venture, allegedly misdirecting significant portions of those funds toward personal expenditures and equity markets.
Cristian Popescu, 46, entered a not-guilty plea on October 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. He faces 10 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. The U.S. Attorney’s Office indicates his trial is set to commence on December 21, 2026.
The October 7 indictment identifies the defendant as the founder and top executive of Followone Inc., while also noting his status as the pastor of Passion for Christ, a congregation in Kirkland. Prosecutors contend that the defendant persuaded potential backers that divine will had designated them to fund the enterprise, promising that earnings would ultimately support the church and local demographics, including youth and seniors.
According to the charging documents, when backers voiced skepticism or requested clarification regarding the business, the defendant reportedly cited his religious authority, expressed anger, and claimed the questioners were under demonic influence.
The alleged fraud scheme originated no later than July 2015. Federal officials state that more than 30 individuals contributed to the venture, with the majority losing most or all of their principal. The defendant marketed Followone as a worldwide online platform for trading commodities, real estate, and travel services.
However, the indictment asserts that the company never generated income, lacked the technical capability to process transactions, and remained distant from the public stock exchange debut the defendant frequently predicted. Prosecutors allege the defendant assured investors that a Nasdaq debut was imminent and would yield high returns, prompting them to deplete savings, secure personal and home-equity debt, and drain retirement and education funds.
The indictment details that certain investors were granted board seats upon reaching specific contribution milestones, such as $1 million. Despite these titles, the document states these individuals received no access to financial data, voting rights, or supervisory control.
To substantiate the venture’s legitimacy, the defendant allegedly relied on deceptive press releases, a high-cost office in Bellevue, and web pages featuring vehicle and property listings sourced externally. These listings were intended to simulate an active trading environment, despite the site’s inability to finalize deals.
The documents further describe circular financial flows among entities controlled by the defendant, where funds were moved from Followone to other businesses and returned as payment for services that were never rendered. An investor portal reportedly displayed exaggerated asset values, at one stage reflecting a $1.4 billion corporate valuation. Prosecutors argue the company held minimal intrinsic value and that the defendant obscured its eviction from the Bellevue premises, which involved over $350,000 in accumulated rent arrears.
When backers attempted to recoup their capital, the defendant allegedly claimed that withdrawals would disrupt an ongoing audit or the process for listing on the Nasdaq.
The indictment alleges the defendant moved more than $4.5 million from company accounts to personal banking institutions. Additionally, he reportedly paid himself in excess of $1 million in compensation from 2017 through 2024, used corporate funds to settle approximately $1 million in personal credit card obligations, and transferred nearly $900,000 into a private stock trading account.
Wire and Money-Laundering Charges Stem from 2022 to 2026 Transactions
Federal prosecutors have filed ten wire-fraud charges tied to a span of nearly four years, from May 2022 through April 2026. These allegations involve a series of electronic fund transfers and digital communications central to the alleged scheme. Separately, five counts of money laundering have been brought, focusing on movements of assets between May 2022 and October 2024. Those transactions included deposits into the defendant’s individual checking, savings, and investment accounts.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendant remains free pending trial despite prosecution requests for pretrial detention. The individual is currently subject to electronic monitoring as part of their release conditions.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division. In the courtroom, Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Wilkinson leads the prosecution.
Earlier reporting detailed the initial charges and investigative steps taken by the involved agencies.