A Montreal pastor who defrauded several of his flock for $268,000 was not only sentenced to 30 months in prison, but he will also have to repay them to the last penny in addition to paying a fine of $50,000.
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“He enjoyed the confidence of the members [de sa communauté]. The influence he exercised over the victims was a significant element in obtaining different sums, “said judge Yves Paradis before sentencing Mwinda.
Lezoka, Thursday, at the Montreal courthouse.
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We see him swear to the veracity of his comments on his Bible during an interview in 2010 in his offices at Bethel Church in Montreal.
The 58-year-old was pastor of the Bethel Christian Community in Ahuntsic. And from 2005 to 2010, he had extracted large amounts from the faithful for various reasons, in particular to acquire a building for worship.
Fortunato Orsini, victim
One of the victims took $10,000 from his credit card for the pastor. Another took out a $127,000 mortgage. A faithful even put on ice her project to open a residence for seniors in order to lend $ 50,000 to the man of God.
“He got a bank draft for $80,736 from [la victime] Fortunato Orsini knowing that the latter is experiencing financial difficulties, ”recalled the magistrate.
Victims cheated
Except that the pastor’s promises of reimbursement were worthless. The more time passed, the more the hope of seeing the money again was a miracle.
“More than 12 years after the events, the victims have not received any reimbursement”, lamented the judge, adding that Lezoka today had only “5000 $ available to be given to the victims”.
Lezoka’s fraud, however, had a devastating effect on victims, especially Mr. Orsini.
“His retirement income is clearly insufficient, he must hold a manual job in a warehouse to survive, despite his age and his precarious state of health”, lamented the judge.
No leniency
Guilty of fraud, however, Lezoka hoped for a lenient sentence. Claiming to have no more money and to be unable to find a job, he had asked to get out of it with a few months in prison.
The miracle claimed by the man of God, however, never occurred. Judge Paradis instead opted for two and a half years in prison, in addition to the obligation to reimburse the victims by 2029.
“It seems utopian to hope that the victims will be fully reimbursed”, however lamented the judge.
As for the $50,000 fine, he has until 2026 to pay it, failing which he will have to return to prison for a year.
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com