Former Financial Officer of Pontiac Church Sentenced Up to 20 Years

A former financial officer of Trinity Baptist Church in Pontiac was sentenced to 50 months-20 years prison

Reuben Bynum, 61, of West Bloomfield, was arrested in February by Oakland County Sheriffs after being fired in August 2011 when money was discovered missing, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Bynum was found to have forged a required second signature on checks from the church account and misused the church ATM and debit card. He was also sentenced to make restitution payments of $669,163 and an additional $99,225 in interest.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Bynum produced a memo to the church outlining his restitution plan back to the church and also asked the church to keep the matter confidential. In December of 2011, Deacon Roy Van Eaton filed a complaint with the Sheriff's Office in Pontiac.

Bynum was charged with three counts of embezzlement over $100,000. The Oakland Press reports that Bynum spoke with remorse before Judge Wendy Potts' ruling, for using church funds to cover his bills and personal expenses resulting from a period of unemployment.