Minister sentenced to 10 years for theft of $800K
A former minister at Houston’s First Baptist Church was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in prison after admitting he stole more than $800,000 from the megachurch over a six-year period.
Jerrell G. Altic, 40, pleaded guilty to aggregate theft, confessing to taking the money, which bought overseas trips for his family, groceries and a doctorate degree in divinity from a Pennsylvania bible college, authorities said.
“This is a sad day for our county,” said Lester Blizzard, of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. “We are standing in a bit of shock that something like this could occur, particularly when it’s somebody that we look up to so greatly.”
Altic’s attorney, James Alston, declined to comment as he walked out of the courtroom on Monday.
The onetime missions pastor initially surrendered to authorities in December. Altic obtained at least $823,937 through schemes that included forgery, false representations, false approvals for payment, and false receipts and invoices, prosecutors said after the indictment. The theft lasted six years, starting June 2011 and ending November 2017.
Altic resigned from the church immediately after officials approached him about suspicious financial activity in November 2017, church officials said. They reported the theft to First Baptist’s insurance carrier and the district attorney’s office out of “fiduciary responsibility,” they said in a statement.
The theft involved mission funds, church leaders had said, but the church was still able to provide designated money and resources to all of its ministry partners. The church’s insurance coverage paid $500,000
to reimburse some of the lost monies, and the church leadership also approved the use of unallocated contingency funds, according to the statement.
Altic was released on $50,000 bond. He has repaid $550,000 to the church since the indictment, Blizzard said.
The remaining balance could be paid to Houston’s First as a condition of any possible release, to be determined by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Gregg Matte, senior pastor, and Craig Bloodworth, deacon chairman of Houston’s First Baptist Church, said they’re eager to put the manner behind them.
“Altic repeatedly made the decision to break the law and hurt many people in the process,” they said in a statement. “However, we believe God extends love and forgiveness to him. We will continue praying for the entire Altic family.”
After the theft, First Baptist granted membership to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, a group that works to help churches uphold proper financial stewardship, the church leaders said.
Altic, wearing a suit and white sneakers, entered the plea deal in front of state District Judge Nikita Harmon.