Jury Finds Pilfering Pastor Guilty of Grand Theft
Rev. Gaston Smith ripped off non-profit for $10,000
NBCMiami.com
Rev. Gaston Smith
The Miami reverend who used $10,000 in charity cash for his own unholy use has been found guilty of grand theft.
It took jurors less than a day to find Rev. Gaston Smith guilty in a Miami courtroom today.
Smith, 43, pastor of Liberty City's Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, is accused of pilfering funds from a $25,000 grant given to his non-profit, Friends of MLK.
According to prosecutors, Smith spent months going through the money, making ATM withdrawals throughout South Florida and in Orlando, Texas and Las Vegas. Exactly $10,356.50 was taken out after the grant was deposited in July 2005.
The money, which was supposed to go towards several revitalization projects in Liberty City, instead was frittered away on things like a $500 bar tab at a Vegas club.
Smith was busted in February of last year. He'll be sentenced on Feb. 26.
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