The accusations refer to an alleged money laundering network that manoeuvred through wire transfers from the U.S. to Nicaragua. Prosecutors also charged three U.S. citizens with money laundering on the 17th of January. Attorneys claim that these people were part of a network that used two Christian non-profit organizations to cover up the money laundering. They also insist that John Britton Hancock, Jacob Britton Hancock and Casandra Mae Hancock set up a subsidiary of Mountain Gateway Ministry in Nicaragua to receive wire transfers from the U.S.

The organization’s lawyers have condemned this as a case of religious and political persecution and have requested mediation from international human rights organizations and the U.S. State Department. The ministry pointed out that the accused pastors were not allowed to be physically present in court during one hearing, only via video conference.

Once the verdict was passed, the Christian legal defence organization ADF International declared that it would take the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. They released a statement: “ADF International is supporting Mountain Gateway’s case and has filed a request for precautionary measures with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of those fraudulently convicted. ADF International has asked the Commission to demand that Nicaragua ensure the right to health, life, and physical integrity of the pastors during their stay in prison, while the proceedings are ongoing.”