BROOKLYN — A BROOKLYN CHURCH pastor and daycare president pleaded guilty Dec. 16 to federal tax evasion, after prosecutors said he siphoned millions from nonprofit accounts to cover personal expenses. Paul Mitchell admitted using church and daycare credit cards and bank accounts between 2015 and 2022 to pay for clothing, jewelry, luxury watches, life insurance premiums, credit card bills and his own income taxes, according to a press statement from the Department of Justice.

Mitchell also withdrew large amounts of cash and transferred funds into his personal accounts, then failed to report the stolen money as income. Prosecutors said the scheme caused an estimated $2.9 million tax loss to the IRS and $316,699 to New York state.

Mitchell faces up to five years in prison, restitution payments, and fines of up to $250,000.

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