Florida Pastor and Broker Wife Convicted of Fraud

After running a scheme that enticed victims to participate in a bogus real estate investment opportunity in order to get rid of their personal mortgages, Rodney McGill, a radio talk show host and pastor of New Hope Outreach Center in Jensen Beach, Fla., and his wife, Shalonda McGill, a mortgage broker, have been convicted by a jury in Martin County, Fla. According to the Florida attorney general's office, Rodney McGill used his radio program to advertise a contest to become the "Fabulous Five," five "winners" who would receive advice from the pastor on making millions through real estate investments. At least three victims called the radio station and provided their Social Security numbers and other financial information. The McGills showed their victims the properties that had been "selected" especially for them, but the scheme carefully concealed the fact that the McGills owned each of the properties offered up as potential investments. The McGills also encouraged their victims to lie about their income to obtain the mortgages. The defendants stole more than $1 million from banks, paid down their debts and left their straw buyers with ruined credit. Rodney and Shalonda McGill were arrested in September 2008. They will be sentenced in September 2009.