TN Pastor Indicted for Defrauding an Adult With Disabilities
Pastor David Berry accused of stealing more than $27,000 from victim
A Marion County, Tenn. grand jury indicted Pastor David C. Berry this month for stealing more than $27,000 from a man with disabilities.
He was charged following a joint investigation and report from The Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Berry is currently the pastor of the Praise & Worship Family Outreach Center (PWFOC). He is also a tax preparer and the owner of The Tax Service in Jasper, Tenn.
The investigation into Berry’s financial dealings delves back to 2011 when he became the representative payee for the man with disabilities.
The report states that “after the disabled adult requested the Social Security Administration (SSA) to assign Berry as his representative payee, Berry opened a representative payee checking account to receive the disabled adult’s social security payments.”
While in charge of the man’s account, Berry misappropriated at least $27,386 of the man’s funds. This includes $16,686 in check payments made directly to his church without consent from the person with disabilities.
The report states that investigators “were advised that the disabled adult authorized a monthly tithe of 10% of his income as well as a one-time contribution in April 2020 of $1,000 to the PWFOC. However, Berry wrote checks from the disabled adult’s checking account to the PWFOC for significantly more than 10% of the disabled adult’s monthly income without the disabled adult’s authorization.”
Berry also transferred thousands of dollars from the disabled man’s savings account directly into his personal checking account. The report also found that Berry misappropriated funds to pay for dental care for his wife, as well as car repairs, restaurant, gas and retail purchases and a Super Bowl party loan.
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.
In addition, Berry named himself as conservator in order to take over the man’s pension fund of more than $300,000 and made numerous transfers from the account.
Berry only gave the man with disabilities $250 every other week while he was in control of his accounts.
PWFOC made a statement on Facebook after Berry’s arrest.
“You will hear that Pastor David has been arrested. These are totally unfounded accusations. Our Pastor, brother, friend and his wife and family need everyone in the family of faith standing with him now more than ever. The enemy has been trying everything to defame and stop the promotion of the Kingdom of God in our community.”
Berry was charged with one count of Violation of the Computer Crimes Act, one count of Theft over $10,000 and one count of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly or Vulnerable Adult.
Main photo: PWFOC Pastor David Berry / Screenshot via Facebook
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.
TO OUR READERS: Do you have a story idea, or do you want to give us feedback about this or any other story? Please email us: [email protected]
