KirbyJon Caldwell, a prominent Houston, Texas, megachurch pastor, has returned to the pulpit after being convicted and sentenced for wire fraud, coming back to his church after serving a portion of a six-year sentence for defrauding investors out of millions of dollars as part of a bond-trading scheme.
For background, Caldwell, 67, is a highly influential pastor who previously served as a spiritual advisor to Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. In 2021, he was sentenced to prison for taking part in a fraudulent scheme involving a Louisiana-based investment adviser. Caldwell, who pastors Windsor Village Church, a United Methodist congregation in Houston, Texas, has claimed that he “did not know” he was committing fraud.
According to press accounts, Caldwell was released after he fully repaid the individuals who were defrauded by him and his co-conspirator. However, Caldwell was also accused of wiring $25,000 from a church account, which was also confirmed to be repaid. Upon his return to Windsor Village Church on August 10, 2025, Caldwell told the congregation, “I went all the way to Beaumont, Texas, looked all around, couldn’t find nobody.”
In response to Caldwell’s return to the church, a member said that it was “such a blessing” to have him back, calling him a “visionary pastor” and adding, “We are so excited.” Moreover, Pastor and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, a Texas Democrat, said of Caldwell, “My friend is home and free to use all of his skills and gifts to not only Pastor this church, but pastor this community.”
Continuing, Cleaver said, “There’s a big word that we use biblically and theologically, and it is forgiveness, and somebody who cannot move past that, maybe should rethink their commitment to God.” Moreover, Windsor Hills confirmed that Caldwell will preach his first sermon since being sentenced on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
When he was sentenced to prison in January 2021, Caldwell explained his situation to his congregation, saying, “Over three years or so ago, I was indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. … Wire fraud is very inclusive [of a wide range of activities], obviously.” Caldwell then claimed, “I did not know I was committing wire fraud, neither did my attorney at the time, and that’s the way it goes.”
Furthermore, Caldwell was released in September 2024, and Suzette Caldwell, Windsor Hills’s senior pastor and KirbyJon’s wife, told the congregation, “As you may have heard, Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell is at home.” As the crowd responded with cheers, Caldwell explained, “He’s under home confinement, but as soon as he has the green light … from his case manager, then he will be at church.”
In addition, Windsor village issued a statement prior to Caldwell’s sentencing, confirming that he had “made full restitution to all of the victims.” The statement continued, “Many victims were paid over and above the amount that they invested. Voluntary restitution is virtually unheard of and extremely rare in these kinds of cases.”
Featured image credit: KirbyJon Caldwell via X