United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS FORMER LUBBOCK PASTOR ON CHARGES THAT HE STOLE MORE THAN $500,000 FROM USDA’S SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM

LUBBOCK, Texas — A jury in Lubbock convicted former Lubbock pastor, Rev. James Cornell Clark, on 41 counts of a superseding indictment 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 these fraud-related convictions, at another trial in federal court in Lubbock last month, Rev. Clark was also found guilty of importing an alien for immoral purposes. Clark is the former pastor of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church on Cedar Avenue in Lubbock. He is in federal custody.

Specifically the jury convicted Clark on 23 counts of mail fraud, five counts of making false statements or entries, three counts of possession of false papers to defraud the U.S. and 10 counts of money laundering. The entities that were charged in the superseding indictment, Mt Vernon Faith-In-Action Outreach Project, Mt Vernon United Methodist Community Development, Trinity Christian Outreach Ministries, Mt Vernon United Methodist Church Community Outreach Corporation and Clark Evangelistic Outreach Ministries, Inc., were also all convicted on money laundering charges.

The government presented evidence at trial that 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 operational. The program is administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Clark created the five charged corporate and business entities under his control, to receive funds for the Summer Food Program that allowed him to convert federal monies to his own personal use. Clark used these stolen federal monies to purchase his residence, vehicles and rental property; remodel his personal residence; and pay personal tuition.

1 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 cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys C. Richard Baker and Ann C. Roberts of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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