A pastor at an East New York church pleaded guilty to tax evasion and for using millions of dollars in church and day care funds for his personal use.
Paul Mitchell, 60, the lead pastor of Changing Lives Christian Center and president of a Brooklyn day care, used credit cards from both organizations to pay for clothing, jewelry, luxury accessories and life insurance premiums, according to Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
He also wrote checks from church bank accounts to pay his own credit card bills; frequently withdrew large amounts of cash from bank accounts for both organizations and transferred the funds into his own bank accounts, according to prosecutors.
Mitchell, who lives in West Hempstead, Long Island, also failed to report his use of funds stolen from the organizations as income on his personal income tax returns, thereby reducing his tax burden and evading the payment of personal income taxes. As a result of his conduct, Mitchell caused a tax loss of approximately $2,906,072 to the IRS and of approximately $316,699 to New York State between 2015 and 2022, officials said.
“The defendant treated his organizations’ accounts as his own personal piggy bank, stealing millions of dollars and betraying the trust of his congregation and those dependent on the services provided to the community,” Nocella said in a statement.
When sentenced, Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, as well as restitution and monetary penalties.
“Paul Mitchell was trusted by his parishioners to use their donations for good, not to fatten his wallet," said IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr. "His deceit was at many levels, as he also evaded paying millions in tax revenue that benefits the good of all Americans."
