A Bronx pastor who was supposed to head an organization to assist HIV-positive drug addicts scammed the nonprofit out of more than $631,000.
According to the New York Daily News, Rev. Reginald Williams stole thousands of dollars to travel to the Caribbean and splurge on luxury. On Wednesday, the pastor, along with Bennie Hadnott and Naomi Barrera, were charged with grand larceny, while Barrera was also charged with falsifying paperwork with the New York City Human Resources Administration.
Prosecutors claim that Williams used the funds from the nonprofit to pay Hadnott and his consulting group, pay off his personal American Express bill, write cashier’s checks to himself and his wife, and conduct an expense reimbursement hustle for his travels out of the country.
Wiliams, who is the pastor of Bronx’s Charity Baptist Church of Christ, allegedly also collected more than $130,000 from proceeds from an affordable housing real estate sale.
“[The trio] shamelessly stole from publicly funded organizations dedicated to helping vulnerable New Yorkers,” Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said. “Even while their organizations struggled financially – failing to meet contractual obligations and even furloughing employees without pay – these defendants continued to drain the coffers for their personal gain.”
The pastor’s attorney reportedly disagrees and insists that Williams is entitled to “every dime” received by the nonprofit foundation.
The New York Post reports that all three were released without bail following the hearing.