The assistance of the victims of a $28 million Ponzi scheme in Maryland, Virginia is needed in investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States’ Attorney’s office for the District of Maryland.

These victims were scammed by three men who convinced them to invest their funds into their company, 1st Million Dollars, for returns on their initial deposits ranging from 6% to 35% regardless of market volatility.

The men, Dennis Mbongeni Jali, 35; John Erasmus Frimpong, 40; and 61-year-old Arley Ray Johnson posed as pastors and attended church events to get investments from churchgoers, claiming their work was to help churches and their members achieve personal wealth and financial freedom.

Instead, they squandered the investments on lavish lifestyles.

They’re currently being charged with wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering.

The FBI has therefore called on potential victims to come forward “so that they can be made whole and that restitution can be provided to them,” an FBI officer with the Baltimore Field Office said.