United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

FORMER LUBBOCK PASTOR CHARGED IN FEDERAL INDICTMENT WITH
STEALING APPROXIMATELY $500,000 FROM USDA’S SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM

A federal grand jury in Lubbock has returned a 43-count federal indictment against former Lubbock pastor, Rev. James Cornell Clark, charging him with various offenses related to defrauding the U.S. government of more than a half million dollars, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. In addition to the fraud-related charges, Rev. Clark is also charged with importing an alien for immoral purposes. Clark is the former pastor of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church on Cedar Avenue in Lubbock and is now in federal custody.

Specifically the indictment charges Clark with 24 counts of mail fraud, five counts of false statements, three counts of possession of false papers to defraud the U.S., ten counts of money laundering and one count of importation of an alien for immoral purposes. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation which would require Clark to forfeit two vehicles and his residence on 56th Street in Lubbock, upon conviction.

According to the indictment, from April 2003 until April 2006, Clark negotiated Summer Food Program contracts and agreements for the Mount Vernon United Methodist church as being the non-profit corporation entity that was the sponsor of the program. The purpose of the Summer Food Program is to provide nutritious meals to needy children when schools are normally closed and the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Programs are not operation. The program is administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The indictment alleges that Clark created other sham corporate and business entities under his control, namely Mt Vernon Faith-In-Action Outreach Project, Mt Vernon United Methodist Community Development, and Trinity Christian Outreach Ministries, to receive funds for the Summer Food Program that allowed him to convert federal monies to his own personal use. Clark purchased vehicles and rental property, remodeled his personal residence and paid personal tuition with the stolen funds.

Count 43, importation of an alien for immoral purposes, alleges that between August 14, 2005 and January 15, 2006, Clark brought an alien, “Jane Doe,” into the U.S. from Kenya for thepurpose of prostitution. In April 2006, Clark was arrested by the Hockley County District Attorney’s Office in Levelland, Texas, for the offense of compelling prostitution by force/threat. Federal search warrants were executed at Clark’s home and office with the primary purpose to find evidence relating to human trafficking. However, a cursory review of the seized evidence revealed evidence of violations having been committed by Clark regarding the participation in the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in the Summer Food Service Program.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. If convicted, however, the maximum statutory penalty for each of the mail fraud counts is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each of the false statement and possession of false papers to defraud the U.S. counts carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Two of the money laundering counts carry a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the remainder carry a maximum statutory sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The importation of an alien for immoral purposes count also carries a maximum statutory sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution could be ordered.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Richard Baker of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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