Javier Leiva
Word of Faith Fellowship pastor Jane Whaley faced her biggest legal challenge yet—her son-in-law is getting locked up.
On Thursday, Kent Covington was sentenced to 34 months in prison. When he gets out, he will be allowed two years of supervised release. On top of that, the courts demanded that Covington repay $466,000 in restitution.
Photo courtesy of Jean Gordon/Daily Courier via AP, File) (Associated Press)
You might remember that Kent Covington was accused of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Prosecutors believe that Covington laid off employees in order to collect unemployment benefits. But in reality, no one got laid off. Instead, the employees kept on working. It was a win-win for everyone. The employees got unemployment checks to live off of and Kent Covington didn’t have to pay them. He could keep all the earnings for himself. This plan worked so well that he continued to swindle Uncle Sam at his other businesses.
His faithful employee, Diane McKinny, was also charged. However, she pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial on May 6. [update: Diane McKinny pleads guilty]
But this isn’t the first time a Word of Faith minister has been charged with fraud. A foot doctor, Dr. Jerry Gross, and his son were also sentenced last week and ordered to pay back $162,276 with three years probation for fraud.
So what do I make of all this? Well, I’m glad that the citizens of Rutherford County are witnessing justice swing in the right direction. The idea that Jane Whaley has local law enforcement in her pocket is withering away. Hopefully, these court decisions inspire hope in a community ruled by fear.
The church also has to watch their backs—all eyes are on them. The small town of Spindale has the attention of the national media. I believe that these court proceedings, along with the AP coverage, has shined a spotlight into Jane Whaley’s operation.
Maybe this wasn’t a church orchestrated scam or maybe it was. But Jane’s minister will have to think twice before ripping us off. I say us because that’s who’s paying for their criminal behavior. This scheme happened during the recession and the state agency who pays out unemployment had to borrow money from the federal government.
U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger said, “It undermined the entire employment security structure of the state. It was sort of like picking the pocket of a dying man.”
This was clearly a loss for the church who claims they are being prosecuted for being Christian. And what’s more Christian than ripping off money that’s meant to feed people who actually lost their jobs? I know Jane Whaley wasn’t changed in these crimes, but she was named in court documents as someone who promoted this type of behavior.
If you’d like to read more about this case, check out: