Bradenton Pastor Nelson Cristiano Machado, Jr. Found Guilty Of Three Counts Of Wire Fraud

A federal jury has found Bradenton Pastor Nelson Cristiano Machado, Jr.  guilty of three counts of wire fraud. Machado faces a maximum penalty of 90 years in federal prison on each count.

Machado preached at the Portuguese service at the First Assembly of God Church in Bradenton a few nights a week in 2009-2010. Machado relocated to Brazil in order to continue his ministry there.

The U. S. Attorney’s Office presented evidence at trial that showed the Bradenton Pastor knowingly defrauded his mortgage lenders. Machado attempted to purchase two properties in Cape Coral, one for $509,900, and another for $249,900.

Machado falsely represented his employment and the balance of his bank account on his applications. He also claimed that each of the homes would be his primary residence. He also failed to disclose to his second mortgage lender that he had already obtained a first mortgage in the amount of $343,000 and a second mortgage in the amount of $147,000.

Machado also failed to disclose the purchase of another residence located in Fort Myers for which he had obtained a mortgage in the amount of $189,050.  Relying upon Machado’s false representations, the mortgage lenders approved his loan applications and wired the funds to the designated title agencies for closing.

The Bradenton Pastor’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 26, 2016.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement participated in the investigation.