The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged a former chief executive, as well as his firm and a former colleague, for running a Ponzi scheme in which the regulator says church congregations were targeted.

The SEC alleges that Ephren Taylor II misled investors over two investment programs being offered by City Capital Corporation, of which he was CEO. It is alleged he targeted “socially conscious” investors through church congregations.

According to the Commission’s complaint, around $11 million raised by Taylor and his firm between 2008 and 2010 was diverted to pay Taylor’s personal expenses, the firm’s costs, and fuel the Ponzi scheme.

“Instead of investor money going to charitable causes and economically disadvantaged businesses as promised, Taylor secretly diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars to publishing and promoting his books, hiring consultants to refine his public image, and funding his wife’s singing career,” the regulator said in a statement.

The SEC has also charged City Capital and its former chief operating officer, Wendy Connor, who along with Taylor is said to have received “hundreds of thousands of dollars from investors in salary and commissions.”

According to the SEC’s statement, Ephren used a highly-developed public relations campaign to promote his brand of socially-aware investing, conducting tours to numerous cities, speaking at church congregations, as well as authoring books and making national television appearances.

The actual scheme involved two primary investments, according to the SEC, which were promissory notes supposedly funding small businesses and interests in “sweepstakes” machines. A portion of profits were supposed to go to charity, and Taylor also allegedly promised high returns.

The SEC’s complaint seeks disgorgement, financial penalties and permanent injunctive relief against City Capital, Taylor, and Connor as well as officer and director bars against Taylor and Connor.