A 59-year-old Augusta minister could face up to 20 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to charges that he defrauded a bank in a mortgage loan application.
The Rev. H. Kelly McKnight Jr., senior pastor of Bible Deliverance Temple, broke into tears on Thursday as he told a U.S. District Court judge about the scheme.
McKnight pleaded guilty to a charge of wire fraud.
Evidence presented at a hearing showed that in 2006 and 2007, McKnight had an application submitted to Wachovia Mortgage that misrepresented his father's income, his father's intent to occupy the property and other information. The property eventually was foreclosed.
McKnight offered an apology and said he wanted to use the money to fund a ministry he operates.
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Information from: The Augusta Chronicle , http://www.augustachronicle.com
