Monday, December 18, 2006 at 1:01am
Church gets $1m for stolen land
A Chicago church is celebrating this Christmas after receiving a check for more than $1 million for land allegedly stolen from it. First Presbyterian Church on the city's south side received the check for vacant land allegedly stolen from the church by a disbarred area attorney, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.
The Rev. Jerry Wise told the Tribune he was thrilled about the check, as the historic church has struggled in recent months to pay its bills. The $1.1 million sale was completed by Clarke Construction Friday on land that had been pirated from the church in an elaborate nationwide real estate scheme, the newspaper said.
The scheme bilked numerous churches, businesses and non-profits out of property parcels.
The Rev. Jerry Wise told the Tribune he was thrilled about the check, as the historic church has struggled in recent months to pay its bills. The $1.1 million sale was completed by Clarke Construction Friday on land that had been pirated from the church in an elaborate nationwide real estate scheme, the newspaper said.
The scheme bilked numerous churches, businesses and non-profits out of property parcels.