Dallas televangelist Marcus Lamb and his Daystar TV Network have returned a nearly $4 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan after an investigation into reports the network bought a private jet.
CBS’ Inside Edition found that the tax-exempt religious network bought a multimillion-dollar private jet just two weeks after receiving a federal loan.
The taxpayer PPP money was suppose to be used to help support employees during the pandemic.
A 2014 NPR investigation reported that Daystar had about $233 million in assets as of June 2011. In a clip featured in a video piece by Inside Edition, Daystar CEO, President and co-founder Marcus Lamb claimed that the church was appraised at over $1 billion.
Daystar claims the jet was used for ministry work. But Inside Edition found the jet had been used for beach and golf trips for Lamb and his family. At least one trip was described in social media posts as a family vacation, which Lamb claimed was a working vacation.
In a statement, Daystar spokesperson Arnold Torres told The Dallas Morning News " the PPP loan has already been paid back in full, and with interest."