A Chicago Pastor has been charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a program that feeds needy children. Clarence Smith fraudulently used more than $900,000 through the New Life Community Ministries from the Illinois State Board of Education. It was a federally funded program that went to his bank account instead of needy children. Smith's flamboyant lifestyle made some people of the community suspecious. "He was coming around in Jordans and Bentleys and new cars, and I'm like, wait a minute, pastors don't do that," said Ravin Cosey, a neighborhood resident.
The Illinois State Board of Education sited that New Life Community Ministries was terminated in 2016 for not providing records of meals that were allegedly distributed. Reverend Smith spoke with Chicago's own ABC 7 by phone and stated, "I totally deny any and all allegations of fraud. I've served the community for years and will let this play out in court." I pray this is not true!