Former Crofton pastor sentenced for fraud and tax offenses

PADUCAH, Ky. – A former Kentucky pastor has been sentenced for fraud and tax offenses.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky, 58-year-old Marvin Upton of Crofton was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Upton was charged with three counts of bank fraud and three counts of filing false tax returns, according to court documents.

Until recently, officials say Upton was the pastor of Crofton Pentecostal Church.

Officials say the bank fraud charges stem from Upton’s “scheme during the years 2013 to 2016 to defraud one of his parishioners who suffered from dementia.

According to officials, during that time, Upton also submitted multiple false tax returns, which omitted income from the fraud scheme.

There is no parole in the federal system.

Upton was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $500,000 to the victim’s estate and $222,037 in restitution to the IRS.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.