What makes grown adults think they can get away with crime, and nobody will ever find out their dirty deeds?

Rev. Clarence Smith Jr. was the pastor of a storefront church on Chicago’s west side. Federal authorities have indicted the flock leader for stealing thousands from his parishioners and contributors, who thought they were giving to feed unfortunate kids. Smith turned that money into another source of income to purchase a $142K luxury Bentley.

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If you Google Smith, you will find that he is plastered all over the internet with sermons, so needless to say, this will be a huge blemish on what he’s been doing for the community.

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Smith, who has led the New Life Impact Church in the Lawndale neighborhood for years, has been indicted on charges alleging he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a federal program intended to feed needy children, spending the money on a $142,000 Bentley luxury vehicle and other personal expenses. It’s not the first time that Smith, 45, has been accused of financial malfeasance. Nearly a decade ago, he pleaded guilty in DuPage County to using forged signatures to swindle an elderly man’s estate out of more than $100,000, court records show. In the years since, Smith has struggled financially at times, public records show. In 2012, four years before purchasing the Bentley, Smith filed for personal bankruptcy, claiming he had only $20 in cash on hand and owed more than $80,000 in restitution from his DuPage conviction, according to court records. He has been sued by at least two food supply companies for defaulting on contracts and currently owes more than $8,000 in overdue property taxes on his one-story brick church in the 3500 block of West Cermak Road, records show. [Chicago Tribune]

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Smith’s indictment alleges he defrauded the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. The program’s purpose is to provide meals for children in impoverished neighborhoods. Smith’s church, New Life, was a sponsor of the program, which made them responsible for feeding children at various locations in the city and billing the state for the services.

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You would think someone would notice if the job wasn’t being done correctly, so why even try to commit a crime like this?

Smith increased the number of meals he was supposed to be serving while billing Illinois close to $1 million, which was split into two installments back in 2016. His criminal practice included depositing the monies into his church’s bank accounts and then withdrawing it to pay for personal expenses.

In July 2016, he received a check for $825,695, and from there, he purchased a $142K Bentley Flying Spur luxury sedan using a cashier’s check.

While this overbilling was going on, several vendors had taken Smith to Cook County Circuit Court for nonpayment.

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