Led astray by fellow church member

He was a trusted member of their church community and investigators say he sinned, big time. Postal Inspector Tammy Mayle explained the victim's first warning signs. "We're worried about our money," they told their pastor. "Is there any way you can look into this? And the pastor agreed."

That's when Dan Hoey's investment scam involving fellow church-goers began to unravel.

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"A lot of people trusted him," Mayle explained. "They believed him. He lead a bible study. He pitched an investment opportunity to these same people at his church basically asking them for money."

Friends and family gave their money to Hoey. More than 20 people put up two million dollars to invest in Hoey's company, Trilliant.

"People that work for large corporations had the opportunity through their company to obtain a mortgage with a discounted rate. Also $100  from the mortgage would go to the charity of their choice. Which was very enticing for the people of the church," explained Mayle.

The problem was that none of this was legit. Hoey was running a scam.

"He went on vacations, he purchased very expensive items including a $10,000 oven, these people from his church truly believed he used this money for investment purposes," Mayle said.

Postal inspectors say Hoey was so convincing, some parishioners refused to believe he was running a scam.

"When I was interviewing them and said you are a victim of an investment scam, they said "he's part of the church, we believe he took our money and he used it in his business but his business failed," Mayle added.

Dan Hoey pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud in connection with this scam. He will be sentenced in February. For more about how to spot bogus investments, or to report a scam, click here for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Website.