Associate Pastor Pleaded Guilty Of Fraud

Thomas Edward James, a part-time associate pastor at St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Ft. Smith, has pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of making a false tax return.  A release from Kenneth Elser, acting U. S. Attorney of the Western District of Arkansas, stated that James, 34, pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding investors of appro- ximately $200,000.

According to the release, James approached potential investors, a majority of whom were retired and members of St. James, with proposals to make investments through him.  He then fraudulently induced investors to invest funds through false representations that their funds would be invested in a U. S. Treasury Bond, which were insured and guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.

The release also stated he admitted to filing false tax returns from 2008-2012 and owing the U. S. additional taxes totaling $205,566.46.

James was previously terminated from Merrill Lynch as a broker.

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