Ex-pastor sentenced to 10 years

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former New Orleans pastor was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison for stealing nearly $1 million in disaster loan payments meant to rebuild his church after Hurricane Katrina.

Toris Young, 41, apologized for his "mistakes" and "bad choices" before U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier handed down a sentence that was roughly twice that recommended under federal sentencing guidelines.

"Today I come sorrowful. I come regretful. I come with my heart poured out, asking this court to please have mercy," said Young, who made headlines in recent years for leading a failed effort to recall a Louisiana congressman and for planning an anticrime campaign with a rapper awaiting a murder trial.

His plea didn't sway Barbier, who said he had considered imposing an even longer sentence. Young had faced a maximum of 30 years in prison.

"You really stole from your own church, from your own parishioners," the judge said. "There's no church now, so they're really your victims, too, along with the federal government."

Barbier also ordered Young to pay $963,900 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.

Young, who pleaded guilty in January to theft of government funds and mail fraud, submitted fraudulent invoices and receipts to the SBA after the 2005 storm to obtain the loan for the Bible Way Baptist Church. Instead of using the money to repair damage from the 2005 hurricane, Young spent the money on jewelry, vehicles, real estate, designer clothes and other personal expenses.

The church property was vacant with overgrown weeds when the SBA checked in 2009 to see how he spent the money. The lot is still vacant to this day, with nothing to indicate a church once stood there.

Bishop Joseph Walker, a Harvey pastor who has known Young since he was a child, told Barbier that Young helped organize relief efforts in the community after Katrina. Walker said he was surprised when he learned Young had "tripped and fell."

"We know that God will forgive him, but we are here today to ask for grace and mercy and leniency," Walker said. "He has done so much good in our community."

Young won't start serving the 10-year prison sentence until after he completes two other federal prison sentences stemming from unrelated fraud convictions in New Orleans and Mississippi. He was scheduled to be released from prison in September 2013 before Barbier imposed the 10-year term.