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Deputies say pastor stole from credit union

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 15, 2009

RIVERVIEW - A former employee for Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union - who also is a church pastor - and three of his congregants were arrested July 8 on money laundering charges.

There may be more arrests, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office official.

The five-month investigation started in February, after credit union officials contacted the sheriff's office after suspecting loan fraud.

The investigation involved more than 120 loan accounts worth more than $400,000 to the credit union.

Donnell Dewitt Williams, 36, of Riverview, a pastor at the Church of God in Christ House of Praise in Tampa, was employed at Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union as a loan officer. He was also the manager of the Ruskin branch from 2007 until February 2009, when the investigation began.

HCSO officials said that between July 26, 2006, and Feb. 12, Williams used his position to establish fraudulent loans to co-defendants by falsifying the loan applications. Williams also used his position within the credit union to circumvent security measures, used the personal information of others both with and without their consent and received monetary gain from doing so, reports said. Williams also engaged in money laundering by filtering money through other accounts, reports said.

Williams was charged with identity theft resulting in losses of more than $5,000, identity theft resulting in losses of less than $5,000, first-degree grand theft and money laundering. He was released on $51,000 bail.

Kenta Fabian, 23; Eric Barr, 31; and Larry Grace, 38; - all of Tampa - were charged with identity theft and third-degree grand theft.

Williams was fired from the credit union in February, according to officials. He went to work as a substitute teacher for the Hillsborough County school district.

A staff report

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