Former Preacher Bilked Money From Children’s Food Program

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) – A former pastor already convicted of importing an African woman for sex now awaits sentencing for bilking the government out of nearly $600,000 intended to feed needy children.

A federal pre-sentencing investigation is ongoing for James Cornell Clark, who was convicted Friday of 41 counts of fraud.

Clark, a former pastor at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, misrepresented the church as being the nonprofit sponsor of the Department of Agriculture Summer Food Program.

He was convicted of bilking $586,347 from a program that provides meals for needy children during the summer.

No sentencing date was set. Clark was laundering the money through bogus corporations, such as the Mt. Vernon Faith-in-Action Outreach Project and Trinity Christian Outreach Ministries, and putting it to personal use.

Last month, Clark was found guilty of bringing a young prostitute from Kenya to the U.S. and forcing her to have sex with him. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced on that conviction.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)