Conservative Babylon

Convicted: Kesha Fortune-Haynie, 41, co-pastor with her husband, Vince Haynie, of Rhema Word of Faith Empowerment Ministries (affiliated with “prosperity gospel” televangelist Frederick K. C. Price), Chico, California, “of two counts of mail fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme,” per the U.S. Dept. of Justice. Between April and December, 2007, Fortune-Haynie, through her company, Empire Mortgage, “originated fraudulent loan applications in connection with a cash-back to buyer mortgage fraud scheme. Evidence showed that Haynie promised homebuyers kickbacks from a Chico homebuilder in exchange for purchasing homes. The day after the close of escrow, the homebuilder would write checks averaging $41,000 to the conspirators. Haynie and her co-conspirators would then pay the buyers up to $29,000 of the kickbacks and divide the remainder among themselves. … Following the verdict, [U.S. District Judge Edward J. Garcia] noted that the evidence of defendant’s guilt was ‘overwhelming’ and that defendant was ‘in denial.’” Sentencing is scheduled for July 6, 2012, at which Fortune-Haynie could received up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release. Chico News & Review notes: “Vince Haynie, who is also a political activist, has indicated his intention to run for Chico City Council. It is unknown if his political plans have changed in light of his wife’s conviction.” Sentenced: Niche Savon Fortune, 39, brother and partner in crime of Kesha Fortune-Haynie, to four years and nine months in prison plus three years’ supervised release. Per the DOJ: “A restitution hearing to determine the amount to be repaid to victims of the crime will be held on May 18, 2012.” Story: U.S. Dept. of Justice, March 28, 2012; U.S. Dept. of Justice, March 30, 2012; Chico News & Review, April 5, 2012

Sentenced: Paul LaDuke, 75, former math teacher, Schaumburg Christian School, Schaumburg, Illinois, to 30 months’ probation and ten years’ registration as a sex offender after pleading guilty to nine felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child; i.e., while in class, he pulled down his pants and masturbated in front of his students. The Chicago Tribune notes: “Authorities said he had confessed to engaging in similar conduct over the past 10 years, though he had never before been the subject of a complaint.” At the time of his arrest, NBC Chicago reported: “Investigators believe this behavior occurred multiple times per year over the course of 10 years or longer while LaDuke was teaching at Schaumburg Christian.” LaDuke, whose lawyer claims his client has a dementia-like “brain condition,” has been ordered to undergo a psychaitric evaulation. He is also prohibited from unsupervised contact with minors. Story: NBC Chicago, November 15, 2011; Chicago Tribune, April 10, 2012; Chicago Sun-Times, April 10, 2012

New charges: Jeffery London, 48, former youth pastor, Bible Church of God, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; former dean of students, Eagle Charter Academy, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida; former counselor, Fort Lauderdale Boys & Girls Club; originally charged with sexually molesting three boys, one as young as eight years old, over nearly two decades, to which he pleaded not guilty in March; now “accused of molesting two more victims and has been charged with five counts of sexual battery on a child and three counts of sexual battery. He faces a total of 30 counts of sexual assault, molestation and sexual battery,” reports the Orlando Sentinel. Story: Conservative Babylon, February 4, 2012; Conservative Babylon, March 7, 2012; Orlando Sentinel, April 11, 2012

Sentenced: Cyprian Meier, 68, former pastor, Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, North Dakota, to 18 months in prison, restitution of more than $29,000 to the estate of his victim, and community service, after pleading guilty to felony exploitation of a vulnerable adult, a paralyzed 56-year-old man for whom Meier was providing home healthcare. The Bismarck Tribune reports that the man, who “died on Dec. 3, reported to Bismarck police in November that he believed Meier had been making unauthorized transactions on his savings and checking accounts,” as well as from an annuity, which Meier then invested in various Internet moneymaking scams. In 2005, Meier was forced to resign from his church after 22 years there when he was accused of raising money from parishioners for the same sorts of scams. Story: Bismarck Tribune, September 15, 2005; Thomas Christopher, January 10, 2012; Bismarck Tribune, January 4, 2012; AP, April 11, 2012

Charged: Robert S. Pfeiffer, 30, teacher, Academy of the Holy Family (a “Catholic secondary day and resident school for girls”), Baltic, Connecticut (and who may be associated with Mary’s Field, a non-profit established “to care for pregnant girls, battered wives, and abused children”), with risk of injury to a minor/impairing the morals of a minor, stemming from allegations of “inappropriate contact” with a female student in 2010, while Pfeiffer was employed by the school. Currently free on $50,000 bail, Pfeiffer is scheduled to appear in court April 26, 2012. Story: The Day, April 10, 2012; AP, April 11, 2012; WTNH, April 11, 2012

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