Miami Gardens pastor Eric Readon returned to the pulpit in May after serving 10 months in jail in a case involving an elderly man’s home.
Eric Readon in a video posted Aug. 5, 2026 @New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church / Video screenshot sharpened using Canva
New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church promoted his return with a flyer titled “Readon Returns,” which described him as “the voice for all convicted felons and hurting people.” The Miami Herald reported that about 20 people attended to cheer him on.
According to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Readon approached Edward Fuller in July 2015, introduced himself as a pastor and offered to arrange financing to finish Fuller’s retirement home for a $15,000 fee. He persuaded Fuller to transfer half ownership to a nonprofit he controlled, saying it was necessary for financing.
Readon promised to return ownership, authorities said, but he instead sold the home without Fuller’s knowledge and did not share the proceeds. Prosecutors estimated the theft at $267,000.
In July 2025, Readon pleaded no contest to theft from an elderly person and was adjudicated guilty. He was sentenced to 364 days in county jail, followed by 15 years of probation. The judgment also ordered him to pay victim Edward Fuller $180,000 in restitution.
“Readon Returns” Facebook promotion @New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church
Readon, who spoke to MinistryWatch, disputed the prosecutors’ account. He pointed to a July 2015 agreement between Fuller and Readon’s nonprofit, Project Youth Outreach Unlimited. The agreement described a 50% ownership interest as additional consideration for completing construction and contemplated a possible sale. It also set written-notice and other conditions for a sale. The materials Readon provided do not establish that those conditions were met.
Fuller told Local 10 News in a September 2025 interview that he had received no restitution. Asked about restitution, Readon said, “All of that is on hold until the appeal is over with.” MinistryWatch has not verified a court order suspending payments.
Local 10 has extensively covered Readon’s property dealings and criminal cases, including interviews with Fuller. Readon told MinistryWatch the station was his “adversary” and described its coverage as personal and politically motivated. Asked what the station got wrong, he replied, “Everything, everything.” He cited what he described as a lack of similar coverage by other major stations but provided no evidence of a political motive.
A promotional flyer used Local 10’s branding and what looks to be AI-generated imagery. It depicted Readon being interviewed by reporter Jeff Weinsier and declared he was being investigated for “reaching too many lives.”
Before surrendering, Readon sought to withdraw his plea. He said adverse publicity, emotional distress and the possibility of losing his bond had pressured him to accept the agreement. Prosecutors opposed the request, saying he reviewed the agreement with his attorney and accepted it voluntarily when the judge questioned him.
Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.
Readon later challenged his attorney’s representation in an amended postconviction motion. The court denied the motion, and his attorney filed a notice of appeal in December 2025.
Readon also told MinistryWatch that prosecutors withheld evidence and that his attorney did not review boxes of investigative records or tell him about them before his plea. A June 9, 2025, discovery notice states that prosecutors made three boxes of Florida Department of Law Enforcement records available to his attorneys for inspection and copying on June 6. The notice does not show whether his attorneys reviewed the records or discussed them with him.
In responding to his postconviction motion, prosecutors argued that Readon pursued a plea even though his attorney had not finished preparing for trial.
A July 22, 2026, order from the 3rd District Court of Appeal limited the appeal to the denial of postconviction relief, excluding direct review of his original judgment and sentence. Under an Oct. 15 order from the court, Readon must file his initial brief by Oct. 30 or face dismissal of his appeal.
According to Local 10, Readon also pleaded no contest in May 2025 in a separate Broward County property fraud case. Two restitution orders filed May 23 required him to pay $150,000 and $46,500.
A June 26, 2025, order temporarily suspended the Broward payments until 45 days after his release from Miami-Dade County Jail, when the existing payment schedule was to resume. The order applied only to the Broward restitution, not the $180,000 owed to Fuller.
Two congregants described assistance Readon had provided their families.
Church member Tehsia Green told MinistryWatch that Readon contributed $2,000 toward the funeral after her daughter was killed in 2015 and let the family use the church free of charge. She said he recently helped with her electric bill.
“My pastor has really been great for me,” Green said.
Jeremiah Bavis told MinistryWatch that Readon provided hot meals for his family while he was incarcerated, as well as school uniforms, shoes, clothing and supplies for church members and other families. “He did it off his own strength, and he did it from the heart,” Bavis said.
Readon said he had served New Beginning for more than 20 years without taking a salary. “At this point, the redemption story is the most important thing,” he said.
TO OUR READERS: The mission of MinistryWatch is to help Christian donors become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. Do you know of a story that will help us fulfill our mission, or do you want to give us feedback about this or any other story? If so, please email us at info@ministrywatch.com.