Sobbing Baptist Leader Gets 5 1/2 Years in Prison for Theft

Sobbing and pleading for mercy, the Rev. Henry Lyons was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison Wednesday for swindling more than $4 million while president of one of the nation’s largest and most influential black denominations.

The 57-year-old minister was also ordered to repay almost $2.5 million.

“I cannot shake the feeling that I have let so many people down,” Lyons told Circuit Judge Susan Schaeffer. “I’ve asked God every single night and day to forgive me.”

Lyons was convicted Feb. 27 of bilking companies wanting to sell cemetery products, life insurance policies and credit cards to members of the National Baptist Convention USA. He was also found guilty of stealing money donated to rebuild burned Southern black churches.

Lyons and his alleged mistress, convention publicist Bernice Edwards, were accused of spending the money on luxury homes, cars, jewelry and travel.

Edwards went on trial with Lyons but was acquitted. However, she pleaded guilty in federal court to tax evasion and is awaiting sentencing.

The judge ordered Lyons to prison immediately, rather than allowing him to remain free until his sentencing in federal court in June on related charges of fraud and tax evasion.

“The jury has said you’re a racketeer, and they said you’re a thief,” Schaeffer said. “It’s time to pay the piper, Dr. Lyons.”

Lyons could have gotten up to eight years in prison under state sentencing guidelines.

A weeping Lyons apologized particularly for the theft of almost $250,000 from the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, money intended to rebuild burned churches.

“It stinks in God’s nostrils, and I know it stinks in the law’s nostrils and it stinks to me,” he said. “I ask the court and I ask America and I ask black people to forgive me because I believe that it will haunt me the rest of my life. I really do.”

“I ask for mercy,” Lyons said.