In New Orleans, a Baptist minister admitted to defrauding his congregations, church, and ministries out of roughly $900,000. Reverend Charles Southall III (64) has been a fixture in New Orleans and Baton Rouge in large part through his First Emanuel Baptist Church.
Baptist Minister Pleads Guilty to Fleecing His Flock Out of Almost $900,000 in New Orleans and Baton Rouge
On October 18, 2022, Southall pleaded guilty to money laundering. He apparently solicited donations and tithes before pocketing the money.
He managed to rack up hundreds of thousands by playing to his congregations’ desire to give to the church including two scams where money was raised for a New Orleans charter school and improvements to the church.
As you probably guessed, the charter school was never opened. Over $220,000 was moved to a personal account between 2013 and 2017.
Conning the congregation wasn’t the only way he racked up cash, Southall also sold off the church’s rental properties and pocketed the payments. Other properties were sold and netted him over $500,000.
His plea agreement will see him pay $687,000 in restitution to First Emanuel Baptist Church, over $110,000 to his victims, and roughly $85,000 to the charter school.
Facing up to ten years in prison, Charles Southall III will be scheduled January 17, 2022.
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