AME Church alleges former retirement services exec embezzled tens of millions
The African Methodist Episcopal Church has sued a former executive who oversaw its pension plan’s investment portfolio, charging that he and others embezzled money and defrauded AME clergy and church employees who were relying on its annuity plan for their retirement.
The legal action follows the filing of class action suits that alleged the church mishandled the pension funds, with one claiming at least $90 million is missing. The denomination, in turn, alleges that Jerome V. Harris and others are to blame for the tens of millions in financial mismanagement.
The complaint was filed in the US District Court in Memphis, Tennessee, where the AME Church’s retirement department is located. The department serves about 5,000 clergy and church employees.
