Jensen Beach pastor sentenced to 20 years for mortgage fraud

Jim Mayfield

TC Palm

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

7:18 a.m. EDT, September 9, 2009

STUART - A defiant Rodney McGill prayed for affliction upon his adversaries prior to his sentencing in Martin County Circuit Court, and turned his back on Judge Sherwood Bauer, Jr., as he was handed a 20-year prison term for his part in fraudulently obtaining some $1 million in real estate loans.

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, for every witness called against me I pray cancer in their lives, lupus, brain tumor, pancreatic cancer," McGill intoned at his counsel table prior to the start of the hearing Tuesday.

McGill, the self-proclaimed pastor of New Hope Outreach Center in Jensen Beach, and his wife, Shalonda were convicted in July on nine counts each of obtaining mortgages by false representation, first-degree grand theft and racketeering.

The state alleged the McGills, individually, and through several of their organizations, selected three women of modest income to purchase properties owned by the McGills on a promised return of $50,000 in 90 days with no money down.

During the trial, prosecutors introduced loan applications on the transactions that contained incorrect job descriptions, inflated monthly salaries, nonexistent bank accounts and forged lease agreements on behalf of the buyers.

During a rambling statement to the court, McGill vigorously maintained his innocence, challenging the fairness of his trial.

"I'm not guilty of anything," McGill said. "This courtroom has been deceived. I shouldn't have been charged. What law did I break? I'm out of the box; I'm smarter than them."

As Bauer began explaining the basis of his sentence, McGill interrupted, "Whatever sentence you gonna give to me just give it to me." He then turned his back as Bauer announced the penalty.

McGill received 20 years on the grand theft and racketeering counts and five years on the mortgage fraud convictions. The sentences to run concurrently. He will face 10 years of probation following his release.

Earlier in the day, McGill's wife, Shalonda, received a sentence of 10 years and five years for the grand theft and racketeering and fraud convictions, respectively. She will also serve a 10-year probation upon release.

Shalonda McGill also was required to surrender her mortgage broker license, and they are prohibited from any further activity in real estate.

The two face repayment of nearly $100,000 in court and investigative costs and restitution of approximately $1 million to lenders who loaned money on four residential properties.

Arguing for a reduced sentence, Shalonda, who did not testify during her trial, broke her silence and told Bauer she acted under duress, was a "victim of being Rodney McGill's wife," and that she was unaware that what she did was illegal.

"Whatever I did was on direct instructions from my husband," she said.

In handing down the minimum mandatory 10-year sentence, however, Bauer said he found no basis to depart from the state's sentencing guidelines.

McGill filed a notice of appeal immediately after his sentencing.

Rodney McGill looks at his wife, Shalonda.