Kirbyjon Caldwell shares the seven-year journey from head of a mega church, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, to an indictment for defrauding traders of $3.5 million, to a return as a lay pastor. The saga started when, in a historic transfer, Caldwell paid over $1 million in restitution plus $600,000 in investor charges earlier than being indicted. He was later sentenced to 6 years in federal jail for conspiracy to commit wire fraud on March 11, 2020. On June 22, 2021, he reported to the Federal Correctional Establishment, a low-security facility in Beaumont, Tx. Whereas Kirbyjon Caldwell was launched from jail in September 2024, that launch was to dwelling confinement. He lately accomplished the whole thing of his jail time period on July 31, 2025.
The individuality of Caldwell’s dialog with the Defender reveals his innermost ideas and emotions about The Previous: Reflecting on his journey from indictment to serving time in jail; The Current: The Man At the moment, trying on the challenges he faces re-entering public life and The Future: The Highway Forward, revealing his new objectives and initiatives.
The Previous: Reflecting on his journey
Query: What have been you indicted for? What’s the reality, in your personal phrases? Please stroll us via the occasions that led to your conviction.
Kirbyjon Caldwell: Right here’s the underside line. I made some errors. The first mistake I made was not doing a adequate job of vetting the product, the method, the individuals, and all of that. I don’t know when you recall, through the press convention I held….. I had in my proper hand about 14 or 15 paperwork, and I stated, I’m not responsible as a result of I’ve 16 contracts in my hand signed by people or establishments who’ve promised to purchase the bonds. Little did I do know that if a contract doesn’t have a efficiency date in it, it’s not an enforceable settlement. I had 16 agreements, none of which had enforceable contracts. Within the courtroom, I used to be going to plead not responsible up till about seven to 10 days previous to the trial date. After which I discovered that it is a very key phrase, key phrase – the prosecutors say, when you didn’t understand it, it is best to have recognized it and that’s what they pin on me. You need to have recognized you went to enterprise college, it is best to have recognized you’ve been doing cash offers. You need to have recognized. So, disgrace on me. I ought to have recognized that there have been no efficiency or dates in these contracts. I didn’t know that. So right here we’re in the present day.
Query: If you consider these harmed, emotionally or financially, what did you do to settle up, and what did you say to them?
Kirbyjon Caldwell: I settle for full accountability for my actions. It was by no means my intent to harm or hurt anybody; that was expressed particularly in the truth that I paid everyone again. They referred to as it restitution. I paid ’em all again. Earlier than my indictment, I refunded barely over $1 million to those that requested their a reimbursement. And previous to sentencing, I paid full restitution to the traders/victims – my half of the restitution and my co-defendant’s portion of the restitution. The federal government calls them victims. I then paid traders barely over $600,000. What does the $600,000 signify? That represents the charges that some traders incurred after they pulled cash out of their accounts to take a position on this deal.
I did all that as a result of I assumed it was the fitting factor to do. On the threat of sounding like a Christian, which I’m, I didn’t need that curse hanging over my youngsters’s heads. It took each penny that I needed to do it, however I did it. I’ve had quite a few individuals, together with attorneys, say to me, no method within the hell I might’ve paid these folks all that cash again. And I respect that. However I used to be glad to do it and I might do it once more.
DN Video: Caldwell describes his emotions when he heard the decide’s sentence, talks about his first night time in jail and what ran via his thoughts and displays on the evolution of his religion.
The Current: The Man At the moment
Query: What’s been essentially the most stunning problem or pleasure you’ve encountered since re-entering public life?
Kirbyjon Caldwell: One involves thoughts right away. One in every of our native tv associates, everyone knows it’s ABC -KTRK Channel 13. Bless their hearts. They reported on the $3.6 million fraud case. They didn’t report that I paid everyone again…However what I couldn’t wrap my thoughts round was why they wished to say, I stole cash from aged members of the church. Now I perceive they’ve since printed a retraction. However you understand how that goes. 9 million individuals heard I stole cash from aged members, and 5 individuals learn the retraction.
As this lie that I stole cash from aged members at Windsor Village soaked in — I requested myself, Kirbyjon, why would you are feeling ashamed when you knew it wasn’t true? I felt ashamed, although I knew it wasn’t true. In my thoughts, I see anyone strolling down the road they usually say, `There’s that Caldwell who stole cash from aged individuals who have been their members.’ You recognize, it’s the aged members of Windsor Village half that basically obtained me. My Achilles heel, my mushy spot is for aged and members. What sort of preacher would steal from his members? Aged? Man, that’s not me. And it simply harm my coronary heart. The people who know me got here to my protection on social media, as , bless God for that.
Query: What impression has this chapter in your life had on your loved ones, particularly your youngsters?
Kirbyjon Caldwell: Probably the most painful days in Beaumont have been lacking the birthdays of my relations. Not my birthday, their birthdays…You don’t get that again. Thanksgivings, these are painful too. However the Lord blessed me to see one other Thanksgiving. Graduations, you don’t get these again. My daughter made a press release as soon as whereas I used to be in Beaumont that seared my soul. She stated, `Daddy, one of many issues that I remorse most about you being in Beaumont is that you’re lacking the chance to observe me turn out to be a younger girl.’ You don’t get that again. So, as you’ll be able to see that these have been the robust components.
You recognize, one among my youngsters is forging his method as an entrepreneur. So, I wasn’t in a position to assist him with that. One other was forging his method as a pupil, having to alter colleges. Driving him to school – didn’t get an opportunity to do this. All as a result of I didn’t know to search for the lacking efficiency date and my lawyer did not catch the lacking efficiency dates on the agreements as nicely. I need to repeat once more, I ought to have recognized. I settle for accountability for figuring out, however I’ve to admit in my thoughts, it’s a steep value to pay.
Pastor Suzette (Caldwell) has performed an outstanding job, notably contemplating all of the headwinds. She didn’t count on to pastor the church.
DN Video: Caldwell shares different feedback from his youngsters and the way remorse and fear hounded him.
The Future: The Highway Forward
What’s subsequent for Kirbyjon Caldwell? Are you returning to full-time ministry or exploring a brand new path?Kirbyjon Caldwell: To start with, I’m engaged on a e-book – books truly. I believe there are books inside me. So, I’m enthusiastic about that. By way of my involvement right here within the metropolis, I might be doing quite a lot of preaching and quite a lot of educating. Because the lay pastor at Windsor Village, I’m going to be very concerned locally. I’m additionally working intently with the Kingdom Builder Middle, the constructing – the KBC has a mission in and of itself. I’m going to work very intently with that group. So, on the finish of the day, we’re going to do all we will to impression, in a optimistic method, and uplift the group going ahead as now we have previously.
DN Video: Caldwell talks in regards to the legacy he hopes to go away and his recommendation to his youthful self.
