Downers Grove Pastor Indicted in Embezzlement of Summer Food Program Funds

The founding pastor of the New Birth Christian Center, Chicago, and four others have been indicted by a grand jury on charges of embezzling about $450,000, which is more than half of the funding received for the 2010 Summer Food Service Program.

Robbie Wilkerson, 47, and his wife Tasha, 42, both of Oak Park, are charged with defrauding the program, along with Anthony Hall, 53, a New Birth Christian Center pastor, of Downers Grove; Richard Shumate, 50, program operations manager for the 2010 program; and Richard’s wife, Evelyn Shumate, 47, who worked as an assistant for the program, of Romeoville, according to a Department of Justice news release.

The Summer Food Service Program provides meals to low-income children while schools aren’t in session during the summer, and the indictment states the New Birth Christian Center was among the largest recipients of Summer Program money in the state.

Wilkerson, acting for the New Birth Christian Center, submitted an operational budget of $446,440 to the Illinois State Board of Education in 2010 for 34 places around Chicago where he said the center would bring the food program.

Claims submitted to the board of education said about 267,000 meals were served to children for $714,000, which was $250,000 more than was budgeted. The Department of Justice reports fewer than 100,000 meals were actually served, leaving about $450,000 for personal use.

According to the Department of Justice,

The indictment alleges that Robbie and Tasha Wilkerson embezzled more than $100,000, including more than $60,000 in direct payments to himself and his wife, at the same time his wife was paid as an employee of Youth Outreach Services, Chicago, as a prevention coordinator. In addition, more than $10,000 was given to relatives; $20,000 in cash and other withdrawals from NBCC’s bank account; $46,000 to purchase real estate in Chicago; and, $37,109 to purchase a residence in Memphis Tenn., for Robbie Wilkerson’s parents.

Robbie Wilkerson is charged with two counts of wire fraud, theft of government funds and money laundering.

Hall is accused of embezzling about $50,000. Richard and Evelyn Shumate are accused of embezzling $98,000. They, along with Tasha Wilkerson, are each charged with two counts of wire fraud and theft of government funds.

The penalty for convicted offenders of wire fraud is up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. For theft of government funds, the penalty is up to 10 years and fines up to $250,000.

A money laundering conviction comes with up to 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000 or twice the value of the laundered money.

The indictment also seeks any property bought with the embezzled money to be forfeited and at least $400,000, which is the amount allegedly embezzled.

Arraignment dates will be scheduled in federal court in Springfield.

“The Summer Food Service Program was created to ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony V. Mohatt in a statement. “Those who are involved in fraud and abuse of SFSP and other USDA programs will be aggressively pursued by our office. The USDA Office of Inspector General will continue to dedicate resources in order to protect the integrity of the SFSP and other USDA programs and to pursue prosecution of those who commit fraud.”