While a financial miracle was being proclaimed on social media and from the pulpit, a federal investigation was being launched in the halls of the courts. Evangelical pastor Jorge Ledesma, leader of the International Christian Church of Resistencia, Chaco, told his congregants that the 100,000 pesos he kept in a safe deposit box mysteriously turned into $100,000. According to him, this "miracle" helped finance part of the construction of the imposing "Portal del Cielo" church. Now, the Federal Court is investigating him for alleged money laundering and tax evasion.
The case is being handled by Federal Court No. 1 of Resistencia, headed by Judge Zunilda Niremperger, and under the supervision of prosecutor Patricio Sabadini. While no charges have been filed so far, reports have already been requested from the Customs Collection and Control Agency (ARCA), the Financial Information Unit (UIF), and other provincial agencies.
.png "Between faith and fraud: Evangelical pastor said that 100 thousand pesos were transformed into dollars.")
The luxurious "Portal del Cielo" temple in Chaco is the focus of a federal investigation.
The goal is to establish how much public funding the church founded by Ledesma in 1994 received, as well as to determine whether there were any irregularities in the growth of its leaders' assets. The construction of the "Portal of Heaven" is a key element: it is a closed auditorium with a capacity of 15,000 people, billed as the largest in the country. According to preliminary estimates, the cost could range between $50 and $100 million.
Cristian Ledesma, the pastor's son, confirmed in a radio interview that the discovery of the $100,000 was not an isolated incident. Although he declined to provide details, he alluded to other similar experiences and referred the explanation to the church's accountant.
The International Christian Church has over 50,000 active members and is present in more than 40 countries. Its regional work includes networks of soup kitchens, soup kitchens, and solidarity campaigns. It also maintains political ties with provincial figures from various political parties, including former governor Jorge Capitanich and current governor Leandro Zdero.
According to judicial sources, the church's exponential growth and social influence motivated the opening of the case. Tickets to the church's inauguration fetched between 30,000 and 100,000 pesos, although there are no direct suspicions regarding that particular event so far.
The prosecutor's office is seeking to determine whether there were any financial cover-ups, unjustified movements of funds, or possible use of state funds for church activities. In addition, a team of experts will be formed to appraise the property.
For now, the investigation is preliminary. But the magnitude of the case and the mix of faith, money, and power could make this episode one of the most high-profile judicial cases of the year.
