The founding pastor of New Birth Christian Center, a non-denominational church in Chicago, his wife and three associates have pleaded guilty to defrauding a summer food program for low-income children, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Springfield.

Robbie Wilkerson, 49, and wife Tasha, 44, both of Oak Park, entered their guilty pleas Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins. Robbie Wilkerson pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, while Tasha Wilkerson pleaded guilty to theft of government funds.

In addition, federal prosecutors said, the business administrator for the 2010 summer food program, Anthony Hall, 54, a NBCC pastor from Downers Grove; Richard Shumate, 51, program operations manager for the 2010 program; and his wife, Evelyn Shumate, 48, who worked as an assistant for the program, both of Romeoville, entered guilty pleas last week to theft of government funds.

The Summer Food Service Program provides meals to low-income children when schools are not in session. In Illinois, the State Board of Education administers the program funding that is provided by the Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

New Birth Christian Center operated the food program in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and was one of the largest recipients of summer program funds in Illinois. For the 2010 program year, Robbie Wilkerson, on behalf of NBCC, submitted a total operational budget to the ISBE of $446,440, including $250,000 for food and $26,400 for administrative costs. The budget represented that NBCC would administer the summer program at 34 sites in the Chicago area.

Instead, according to prosecutors, he admitted that he submitted or caused to be submitted, approximately $714,000 in false and fraudulent claims to ISBE, more than $250,000 above the budgeted amount. The submitted claims represented that approximately 267,000 meals were served to low-income children, when in fact, fewer than 100,000 meals were actually served, and as much as $450,000 was used for the defendants’ personal use.

Robbie and Tasha Wilkerson admitted that they embezzled more than $100,000 from the program, including more than $60,000 in direct payments to themselves, at the same time Tasha was paid as an employee of Youth Outreach Services in Chicago as a prevention coordinator. In addition, prosecutors said, more than $10,000 was given directly to relatives; $20,000 in cash and other withdrawals were made from NBCC’s bank account; $46,000 was used to purchase real estate in Chicago; and $37,109 to purchase a residence in Memphis Tennessee, for Robbie Wilkerson’s parents.

Hall admitted that he embezzled as much as approximately $50,800 in USDA funds for his and his spouse’s use, prosecutors said, while Richard and Evelyn Shumate admitted embezzling between $40,0001 and $$95,000 in USDA funds for their personal use, including as much as $28,695 to purchase a 2011 Hyundai Sonata.

Sentencing hearings for Robbie and Tasha Wilkerson are set for Oct. 6. Hall’s sentencing date has been set for Sept. 22. Richard and Evelyn Shumate are scheduled for sentencing Sept. 15.

According to court documents, the government intends to recommend that Robbie Wilkerson be sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of at least $400,000. For Tasha Wilkerson, Hall and Richard and Evelyn Shumate, the government has agreed to recommend a split sentence of five months in prison followed by five months of home confinement and to pay restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass is prosecuting the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. The charges are the result of investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. The Illinois State Board of Education also assisted in the investigation.