Florida Pastor James Edward Smith II, 49, of Lauderhill, was taken into custody by Special Agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for allegedly defrauding the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Pompano Beach to get money to support his drug habit.
Subscribe to Florida Jolt Newsletter!
Investigators with FDLE said that the investigation into Smith began in April 2022, when they received complaints from church parishioners and founders that Smith had fraudulently gained control of the church and its money.
Detectives said Smith forged a quit claim deed, allowing him to assume control of the church’s property, which he sold for $600,000. Smith is accused of using the money to support a drug habit.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office assisted FDLE with the investigation.
FDLE agents arrested Smith on Thursday and booked him into the Broward County Jail. The Lauderhill Police Department Special Enforcement Team, Broward County sheriff’s deputies, and the Florida Department of Corrections Probation Office assisted with the arrest.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said James Edward Smith was charged with organized scheme to defraud, fraud, grand theft, criminal use of personal identification information, unlawful filing of false document records against real or personal property, grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by convicted felon and violation of probation.
A pastor has been arrested on multiple charges after he defrauded a church to support his drug habit, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced. James Edward Smith II, 49, of Lauderhill, was the pastor of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Pompano Beach. pic.twitter.com/kGMZ2IkXZg
— True Words Are Spoken (@TruWordsRSpoken) March 2, 2023
FDLE agents arrested Broward pastor James Edward Smith II for defrauding and illegally selling a Pompano Beach church out from under his parishioners. https://t.co/By7oFAIZT9 pic.twitter.com/o95N2HCCOX
— FDLE (@fdlepio) March 2, 2023
According to FDLE, When Smith was arrested, police searched his residence and found heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and a stolen gun.
In connection to the investigation, Smith is also being charged by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for larceny and fraud associated with worthless checks totaling more than $1,600 written on the church’s bank account.
Smith was transported to the Broward County Jail and is currently held without bond at the Broward County Main Jail on 12 charges.
Follow Florida Jolt on Twitter
The Office of the State Attorney, 17th Judicial Circuit, will prosecute the case.
Other stories you may want to read:
Boynton Beach, Florida Man Shoots Himself in the Face After Traffic Stop
- [Video] NYC Baseball Bat Thug Attacks Random Stranger - July 12, 2023
- California Assembly Blocks Child Trafficking Bill - July 12, 2023
- Georgia Mayor Arrested for Burglary – ‘Do You Know Who the F*** I Am’ - July 10, 2023