Burlington Church Leader Sentenced For Millions In Tax Fraud: FBI

The Burlington County man who leads the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ has been sentenced to one year, six months in federal prison for his role in a scheme that cost the church millions of dollars, authorities announced.

Jermaine Grant, 44 of Burlington Township, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States, U.S Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Tuesday.

Lincoln Warrington, 49 of Bergen County, also pleaded guilty to the same count in March of last year. He was sentenced to one year in prison, according to Carpenito. They are both subject to three years of supervised release.

Warrington is the church's treasurer. He admitted that he and Grant worked together to divert millions of dollars that belonged to the church and its members to Grant for his personal use, Carpenito said.

For example, Grant and Warrington created a purported entertainment company that portrayed Grant as an industry mogul who made his money in the industry, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

As a result, Grant was able to hide the fact that his lifestyle was supported entirely by the church and donations from its members, according to authorities.

In 2018, 100 robed followers joined Grant in the courtroom as he pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to The Asbury Park Press. They cheered for Grant as he accused the federal government of targeting blacks and Hispanics, and that the grand jury process is rigged so that anyone can be charged.

"I'm not guilty," the man who describes himself as the "apostle and chief high priest of the church" told reporters at the time in response to questions about whether he wants to proceed to trial.

Ten months later, Grant and Warrington stood in court and admitted their guilt, according to authorities. They admitted that the money they stole was used to pay Grant's personal expenses, including payments for rental real estate properties, vacations, high-end luxury items, and private school tuition for Grant's minor children, authorities said.

Warrington helped Grant in his scheme to omit these benefits from his individual tax returns, resulting in the evasion of a substantial amount of tax due and owing to the United States, authorities said.

In total, Grant and Warrington admitted to concealing millions of dollars in income from the IRS, and failed to pay at least $250,000 in taxes.

The plea agreements in this matter include a requirement that the church will develop and present to the United States a plan designed to ensure the church’s compliance with applicable federal income tax laws going forward.

Before the United States returns to the church certain cash and property seized during execution of the search warrants in this case, the compliance plan must address the disposition of that cash and property and ensure that they are returned for the benefit of the church rather than for the personal benefit of Grant or anyone else.