Suburban pastor charged with scamming his congregation

​Winston Batino was charged with wire fraud for sending money in 2025 through an electronic transfer from the church to an account he controlled, according to prosecutors. ​ Batino also was charged with under-reporting his income on his tax return in 2022. Prosecutors say Batino took a total of $2 million from dozens of church members, telling them they were investing in a rehab facility that actually never existed.