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Tulsa Minister Guilty Of Wire Fraud And Filing False Tax Return

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Federal prosecutors say a Tulsa minister has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after he was accused of taking nearly $1 million from a nonprofit he created.

U.S. Attorney Danny C. Williams says 63-year-old Willard Lenord Jones pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. At the hearing, Jones admitted misappropriating $933,000 from the Greater Cornerstone Community Development Project, which is a nonprofit organization aimed at raising money to build a community center.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Jones will forfeit his home, a Rolex watch and a fur coat.

Court records show that Jones is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 12. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud counts.

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