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Helen Panilag (wanted suspect)

The person at the center of this case

Helen Panilag (wanted suspect)

Case
#1060
SourceFBI WantedUpdated Mar 15, 2026
United States District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana, California; FBI
Cold Case ยท Open
4 years waiting ยท since 2021

HELEN PANILAG

Justice for Helen Panilag (wanted suspect) โ€” the trail went cold in 2021, but the truth hasn't.

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Key leads to think about

๐ŸŽฏ
suspect
Lead #1

Where is Helen Panilag currently located and what steps has she taken to evade law enforcement since the November 2021 warrant?

๐Ÿ”
evidence
Lead #2

What financial records and documentation exist showing the flow of solicited donations and their use for church operations and personal expenses?

๐Ÿ‘๏ธ
witness
Lead #3

How many victims have been identified and what testimony can they provide about the trafficking scheme and Panilag's role in overseeing it?

Helen Panilag is wanted for her alleged role as a top administrator in a labor trafficking scheme that brought Philippine church members to the United States under fraudulent visas and forced them to solicit donations for a fake charity. The scheme diverted collected funds to finance church operations and leaders' personal expenses, with victims coerced into sham marriages or fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting year-round. Panilag was indicted for conspiracy in November 2021 and remains at large, making her location and current activities unknown to authorities.

Case
#1060
SourceFBI WantedUpdated Mar 15, 2026
United States District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana, California; FBI

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More leads to consider

Beyond the top three above โ€” each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.

๐Ÿ’ก
clue
Lead #4

What connections exist between Panilag and other church leaders, and are additional conspirators being pursued?

Have information about any of these leads?

Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.

Official wording

Source Narrative

Conspiracy Caution: Helen Panilag is wanted for her alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members of a Philippines-based church to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders. Members who proved successful at soliciting for the church allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round.

Panilag is the alleged one-time top church administrator in the United States who oversaw the collection of financial data from church operations around the globe. Panilag was indicted for conspiracy by a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, and on November 10, 2021, a federal warrant was issued for her arrest.

Timeline of Events

๐Ÿ•ต๏ธ
2021-11-10

Federal Warrant Issued

A federal warrant was issued for Helen Panilag's arrest by the United States District Court for the Central District of California following her indictment for conspiracy.

Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case

Case Information

Incident:November 10, 2021
Last Updated:October 30, 2026

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Case Information

Incident:November 10, 2021
Last Updated:October 30, 2026