While the U.S. Senate is contemplating new rules to prevent Chinese internet fraud schemes two ministers from Kansas and Texas had been doing the very thing right under their noses.

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri said in a press release Tuesday that the Rev. Edward D. Halliburton (HAL), of Kansas City, Kan., and Joseph Harrell, of Waco, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud. The office said the men admitted to conspiring with others to obtain money through the fraudulent sale of Petro America stock by lying about the company’s value.

Prosecutors said Halliburton and Harrell were also not licensed to sell stock

The office said Halliburton and Harrell were associated with Ministers Alliance, a group of about 15 ministers, and promoted Petro America to investors.

Petro America was promoted as a company that owned gold mines and oil trading operations

Prosecutors have said that Petro America defrauded more than 9,000 investigators across the country out of $7.2 million by promising them vast wealth in return for relatively small investments. Many of the investors were recruited through their churches using religious language claiming the company wanted to offer congregation members a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to “share the blessing.”