Last month, a Tulsa county jury convicted Jordan Parker, 39, and wife Vanessa Parker, 29, for stealing from their own nonprofit.
Jordan and Vanessa Parker from a 2020 Facebook post @The Reckless Saints of Nowhere
In 2016, the Parkers started the Reckless Saints of Nowhere, a recovery program for addicts in Pryor, Oklahoma—a town the charity claimed was “at the heart of the opioid epidemic.” An addict for over 15 years, Jordan Parker began the ministry after becoming sober. The charity used sales from branded apparel to fund much of the charity’s programs.
The couple, who was arrested in June 2024, was found guilty on two counts of embezzlement and one count of engaging in a pattern of criminal activity. In Oklahoma, the defendant can request that the jury determine an appropriate punishment upon conviction. In this case, the jury assessed the “maximum punishment for each count, totaling 18 years imprisonment and $45,000 in fines.”
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond opened the case under his Consumer Protection Unit, a division designed to pursue cases of financial misconduct involving charities.
“Embezzling funds that were meant to support addicts recovering from substance abuse is indefensible,” Drummond said. “The attorneys, investigators and support staff in my office’s Consumer Protection Unit do a tremendous job ensuring justice in the wake of schemes such as this. We will vigorously prosecute those who misuse charitable contributions for personal gain.”
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According to affidavits, the Parkers used two donations from a Tulsa business totaling $600,000. These funds were intended for sober living services for recovering addicts. The couple had unlimited access to the ministry’s financial checks and used its debit cards to make purchases unrelated to the charity’s activities.
The Parkers spent the funds on large purchases from Amazon, Apple, Bluegreen Vacations, and Walmart, purchased two vehicles, including a Honda Pilot and a Harley Davidson motorcycle, used nearly $20,000 for a timeshare property, and paid personal financial loans.
The couple depleted the funds in a matter of months, leaving the ministry with close to no assets, according to affidavits. Board members reported they had no knowledge of the couple’s spending.
“We are just glad this nightmare is over,” said Scott Miller, Reckless Saints of Nowhere CEO. The Parkers were replaced with new board members after the initial charges in 2023.
Barry Bowen of the Trinity Foundation said on X: “Another example of ministry executives embezzling funds after they stopped filing 990s. Financial transparency can reduce financial crimes. This is one of the reasons we insist on religious non-profits filing 990s or providing an audited financial statement to donors.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on financial fraud in the church? We report on them because one in three churches will be victimized, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. We also report on them because these crimes have real victims and cost taxpayers and other stakeholders billions of dollars every year. Even small crimes in small churches have huge consequences. We also report on them to remind our readers that they do not have to be victims. There are steps you can take to prevent financial waste, fraud, and abuse in your church or ministry. To find out more, click here.