By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Staccato Powell, a former bishop of the African Methodist Episocopal (AME) Zion Church, has pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud and conspiracy to commit fraudulent activity. The crimes were connected to an extensive scheme to gain control of properties belonging to the church in California. Powell was responsible for forged documents, deception and false statements, according to the United States Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of California, which announced the guilty plea on July 15.
Powell, 65, was officially disrobed by the AME Zion Church in 2021. The denomination, with approximately 1.4 million members worldwide, remains a pillar of the African-American community.
Powell was indicted on Jan. 25, 2022, by a federal jury, alongside Sheila Quintana, a former church lay leader. Quintana, 71, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud on April 22.
Court documents say Powell and Quintana were chief executive officer and chief financial officer, respectively, of Western Episcopal District, Inc., (WED) an entity that Powell established in 2016 after he was chosen as bishop of the AME Zion Church’s Western Episcopal District.
In 2016, Powell directed pastors of AME Zion churches in the Western Episcopal District, which consists of churches in several states throughout the western region of the U.S., to sign deeds granting WED title to their congregation’s property – such as the church building, lots and residences used by the pastors. At Powell’s instruction, Quintana and other WED officers worked to complete the transfer of the titles via grant deeds.
From early 2017, Powell directed Quintana and other officers to secure loans using the properties of local AME Zion churches as collateral.To comply with what lenders wanted, Powell arranged for the creation of false church resolution documents to support WED’s loan applications. He told Quintana to create and sign these documents on behalf of local church officers.
Powell pleaded guilty to fraudulently gaining control of mortgages on the following church properties: Kyles Temple in Vallejo, Calif.; First AME Zion Church in San Jose, Calif.; Greater Cooper AME Zion Church in Oakland, Calif.; University AME Zion Church of Palo Alto, Calif.; and First AME Zion Church in Los Angeles.
As part of his guilty plea, Powell agreed to pay restitution of no less than $3 million and no greater than $12.5 million. He also agreed to surrender any claim, right or interest in the properties of AME Zion Church.
Powell is currently out on bond, according to prosecutors. Powell’s sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 23. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for each count.
At the time of publication, the Board of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church had not released a statement regarding the announcement.
Great Job Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
