Pastor Turned Fraudster in Missouri | St. Louis News

A Missouri pastor, Kenneth Sparks III, just got convicted on 20 counts—including money laundering and wire fraud—for swindling up to $1.8 million from his church congregation. While preaching in Paris, Missouri, he stayed for three years, turning the church into his personal ATM by posing as a prophet and stealing identities to secure 40 pandemic loans. He also wrote himself checks totaling over $313K, splurging on luxury goods, real estate, and even a diamond-studded Rolex. Sentencing is set for December 1, 2026—and this case is a chilling reminder of how trust can be weaponized when people are vulnerable. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/199f0d5aa7794e37