MIAMI – A Miami Gardens pastor who just last week rejected a plea deal in a high-profile fraud case did a complete about-face in Miami-Dade court on Monday.
Eric Readon, who faced up to 65 years in state prison, accepted a plea.
During Monday’s proceedings, Assistant State Attorney and Economic Crimes Unit Director Anthony Gil told the court, “The defendant will ultimately serve 364 days in jail, 15 years’ probation, and pay $180,000 restitution to Edward Fuller.”
“I just want closure, judge,” Readon told the court during Monday’s hearing.
The 49-year-old Readon, who leads New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church, was originally charged with organized fraud, exploitation of the elderly, theft and grand theft.
In 2017, retired postal worker Edward Fuller came to Local 10 News claiming the pastor had taken advantage of him while he was building a home to pass on to his children.
Fuller said Readon offered to help secure a construction loan and convinced him to transfer part ownership of the home. Instead, Readon allegedly sold the property without Fuller’s knowledge and kept the money.
Fuller has since moved out of state to be closer to family.
Readon was taken into custody Monday, not for the Fuller case, but due to a warrant related to a separate grand theft auto case that was recently reopened in Miami-Dade.
He will be temporarily released to get his affairs in order and has agreed to turn himself in on July 15 to begin serving time in the Fuller case. Both cases will be combined under the new plea agreement.
The temporary release came with a stern warning from the judge.
“If you are re-arrested, if you are cited, if you are arrested for a traffic ticket, if you do anything that is in violation of this plea agreement, you forgo those 364 days. You understand me?” the judge asked.
Readon replied, “Yes.”
Court records also show that Readon recently accepted a no-contest plea in a separate Broward County case, agreeing to pay nearly $200,000 in restitution to victims in Davie and Lauderdale Lakes, who also accused the pastor of trying to take their properties under false pretenses.
Other victims of the pastor’s schemes include Lorenzo Johnson, who claimed Readon stole and forged a $9,000 check from his daycare and Latisha Blue, who successfully sued the pastor for failing to deliver a car she had purchased.
Readon has faced significant financial turmoil, including being evicted from several rental homes and the foreclosure of his New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church
As Readon was escorted from the courtroom Monday, Local 10’s Jeff Weinsier asked if he had anything to say. The pastor remained silent.
If Readon violates probation after release, he could face up to 30 years in state prison.
