Class of '62er finds path to justice after death. Judge Mack Howard

extends the reach of the law.  Forwarded by Bill Mogan.

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Posted on Wed, Nov. 02, 2005

Former N.C. preacher ordered to pay Florida widow

Associated Press

GREENVILLE, N.C. - A federal judge has ordered a former Greenville

minister to start making payments to the estate of a Florida woman years

after he was convicted of stealing from her.

U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Howard last month ordered the Rev.

Jim Whittington, 64, to pay $5,500 a month. Whittington - who had expensive

high-speed boats and a Rolls-Royce - owed wheelchair-bound Valeria Lust

$848,532.

The minister, formerly of Greenville and now living in Atlanta, and

four other people were convicted in 1992 of stealing nearly $900,000 from

the woman while he was the on-air presence for Fountain of Life ministries.

Lust has died and the Oct. 13 said the payments would be made to her

estate.

Prosecutors said the minister kept his luxury lifestyle after leaving

prison in 1995 and in 10 years had repaid less than 2 percent of the money

he owed. They said his ministry paid for a country club membership, cars and

jewelry.

"It is extremely disappointing that he has chosen not to pay this

restitution when he's spent so much money on himself," said Assistant U.S.

Attorney Norman Acker.

In a telephone interview, Whittington denied the theft and said he was

a target of prosecutors. He said he doesn't get a salary from his current

ministry, World Deliverance Crusade.

"I didn't take that woman's money," Whittington said. "She gave it to

the ministry."