Kent Whitney

What the public record shows

Kent R.E. Whitney founded the Church of the Healthy Self (CHS), a nonprofit corporation in Westminster, California, and its related entity CHS Asset Management, operated out of a strip mall. He pleaded guilty in November 2020 to mail fraud and filing a false federal tax return, and was sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in prison, with $22,662,668 in restitution. This is a criminal conviction — not an allegation.

The scheme

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, from September 2014 to April 2019, Whitney used CHS and its related entities to defraud investors — bringing in more than $33 million by presenting himself as a trusted spiritual leader while running what was, in substance, an investment fraud.

Why nonprofit/church structures are exploited

A nonprofit corporation with a religious mission provides built-in credibility and an existing community of trusting members — exactly the ingredients affinity fraud needs. Whitney’s case shows how far that trust can be stretched: a strip-mall office and a church’s name were enough to move $33 million.

Why we rate this 1 / 10 — Avoid

A guilty plea and a 14-year sentence for one of the largest church-based investment frauds on record, with restitution exceeding $22 million.

How to protect a faith community

• A nonprofit or religious affiliation is not a financial credential. Ask whether any investment vehicle is registered with the SEC or state regulator, independent of the church’s mission.
• Insist on independent audits of any church-affiliated investment fund, performed by an outside accounting firm.
• Be especially cautious when a spiritual leader also personally manages members’ money — the two roles create an unchecked conflict of interest.

Bottom line

Convicted and sentenced to 14 years. Spiritual trust and financial diligence are different things — a congregation deserves the same independent verification as any other investor, not less.

← Back to all reviews