Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada
AUGUST 2004
Bill's Story
Bill Kennedy was the founder of Western Monetary Consultants, a precious metals company. Under Bill's direction, WMC sales jumped from $1 million to $167 million in the first seven years. But problems developed. While Bill spent his time on the road, marketing the business, incompetent & disloyal managers back home allowed a lot of budget errors to occur.
Due to WMC's mismanaged operations, there arose a backlog of orders for metals that had yet to be delivered. Those backlogs led to civil lawsuits. All in all, about 80% of all WMC investors received 100% of their metals. About 20% did not. By March 1988, Bill reluctantly agreed to a 'Chapter 11' bankruptcy. The company would continue operating, a repayment plan was put in place, and it seemed that WMC would be saved and customers repaid. Unfortunately, in July 1992, a federal prosecutor announced that a criminal indictment was being filed against Bill and numerous other WMC staff for mail fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. The publicity put an end to any hope of saving the company or repaying investors.
Many clients who had lost money (some in the hundreds of thousands) came to Bill's defense at his trial. They testified that Bill did not purposely lose their money, nor did he gain anything from the bad investments. Bill was given the chance to be released with 'time served' if he would only plead guilty. But Bill refused to plead to something he did not do. He instead left the outcome to God.
In 1994, Bill was sentenced to an outrageous term of 25 years in Federal prison for 'mail fraud' because of a technical anomaly in federal sentence guidelines used by prosecution for 'money laundering' offenses. Amazingly, if he had committed second-degree murder he would have served less time.
Bill has now served 10 years of his 25-year sentence. Since his incarceration, his son & daughter have both married, and he now has 3 grandchildren. Many great Christian leaders have come to Bill's defense, such as Charles Colson, Tim Lahaye (who has funded his extensive legal bills), as well as Dr. James Dobson, who was Bill's eighth grade teacher.
Regardless of how hopeless the situation seems, Bill believes that he has been placed in prison for a reason. I can testify to this first hand! His impact on my life has been tremendous. Bill was instrumental in teaching me what it means to live the Christian life, in every practical way.
I ask you to keep our brother Bill and his wife Debbie in your prayers. Currently, there is a petition before President Bush, requesting a hearing into Bill's trial. We believe that God has already used Bill in a mighty way, and our prayer is that God will continue to use Bill's life for His glory. For more detailed information on Bill's case, or to listen to a Focus on the Family broadcast with Bill & Debbie Kennedy, please visit www.justiceforkennedy.com
by: Phil Sweet
