Brooklyn Pastor Stole Millions From His Own Church, Feds Say - LAmag

"According to federal prosecutors, Mitchell used credit cards and bank accounts belonging to the church and daycare between 2015 and 2022 to pay for personal expenses, including men's clothing, jewelry, luxury accessories and life-insurance premiums. Prosecutors said he also wrote checks from the church's accounts to cover his credit card bills, withdrew large sums of cash, and transferred organizational funds into his personal accounts."

"Mitchell failed to report any of the stolen money as income on his tax returns, resulting in a tax loss of approximately $2.9 million to the IRS and $316,699 to New York State, according to court filings. "The defendant treated his organization's accounts as his own personal piggy bank, stealing millions of dollars and betraying the trust of his congregation and those dependent on the services provided to the community," US Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. said in the official press release."

"Paul Mitchell, 60, the lead pastor of a Brooklyn church, Changing Lives Christian Center, and president of its educational daycare, entered the guilty plea before US Chief Magistrate Judge Vera Scanlon in federal court in Brooklyn. He faces up to five years in prison, along with restitution and financial penalties, upon sentencing. According to the church website, Mitchell is described as a man of integrity. "Pastor Mitchell is a man of integrity and uprightness. He's a giver of himself.""

Paul Mitchell, 60, the lead pastor of Changing Lives Christian Center and president of its affiliated daycare, pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges. Prosecutors said he used church and daycare credit cards and bank accounts from 2015 to 2022 to pay for men's clothing, jewelry, luxury accessories, life-insurance premiums, credit card bills, large cash withdrawals, and transfers into his personal accounts. He failed to report the stolen funds as income, producing an estimated federal tax loss of about $2.9 million and $316,699 to New York State. He faces up to five years imprisonment, restitution, and financial penalties at sentencing. U.S. officials described his conduct as betraying congregational trust.

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