Pastor From Naperville Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $1.6 Million in Church Funds

A 52-year-old Naperville man faces prison time after taking money meant for his storefront church, officials said.

Howard Richmond, 52, of the 2900 block of Brossman Avenue, Naperville, pled guilty Thursday morning to stealing more than $1.6 million worth of donations and investments intended for his church expansion, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin announced in a news release. Richmond entered his plea in front of Judge Blanche Hill Fawell.

Richmond was the pastor of Life Reach Ministries, a storefront church in an Aurora strip mall on the 4000 block of Fox Valley Center Drive. Beginning in October 2009 through June 2010, Richmond solicited funds from his victims claiming he needed the money to expand his church. In return, Richmond promised a repayment, and frequently a significant premium.

"Richmond portrayed himself as a successful pastor who showed members of his congregation and other supporters bank documents stating that he had millions of dollars in the bank," the news release said. "However the bank documents Richmond showed his victims were fake, his church was in debt and his victims received negligible or no repayment of their loan."

Richmond faces a possible sentence of up to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He declined to comment when reached by phone Thursday afternoon at a number listed on the church's website. 

On the website, Life Reach Ministries is described as " a non-denominational church attended by worshipers of all faiths, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures." Since Richmond initially lacked the funds to start a ministry, he began the church in his Chicago home. He moved to two other Chicago locations before moving to Aurora, according to the website.

"Mr. Richmond took advantage of the generosity of others to line his own pockets," Berlin said in the release. "He betrayed the trust placed in him as pastor of the church, leveraging his victims’ faith to the tune of more than $1.6 million."

Berlin thanked the Aurora Police Department, specifically Scott Reid as well as Investigator Robert Guerrieri and Assistant State's Attorney Shanti Kulkarni for their work in uncovering Richmond’s scheme.

Richmond's wife Debra is also a pastor at the church, according to its website. She is not currently facing any charges in DuPage County, according to court records.

Richmond’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 9, for return of the pre-sentencing report. 

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