Medina Man Charged With Theft Over $10,000
JACKSON, Tenn.- Jackson Police have charged a Medina man with theft over $10,000 in connection with an investment fraud investigation. Nick Pappis, 59, was arrested Tuesday evening by Medina Police on a state warrant charging him with theft over $10,000. A Madison County man reported to Jackson Police that he was bilked for $25,000 on a phony investment scheme. The victim was familiar with the suspect because Pappis was his pastor at the time. Pappis was the pastor of Christ the King Church in Jackson, which has since moved, or stopped operating altogether. A close family friend of Pappis’, Tiffany Harris, told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News they have hard time believing what the former pastor is accused of doing. “He is a very godly man,” Harris expressed. “He would give you the shirt off his back.” The investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division‘s Organized Crime Unit revealed that Pappis did not invest the money as the victim intended, but instead kept the money for personal use. “He was suspicious all along but he made a statement to the effect that he wouldn’t think his pastor would do that to him,” Lt. Jeff Shepard with the Jackson Police Dept. said of the victim. The investigation is ongoing and may involve other victims. Pappis was formally arraigned via video link in Jackson City Court, Wednesday morning. He has made a $5,000 bond and a preliminary hearing has been set for April 17, at 9:30 a.m. Anyone with information about this or any other crime is encouraged to contact the Jackson Police Department at (731) 425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at (731) 424-8477 or by visiting www.jmcrimestoppers.org to place a cyber tip.
