Pastor, wife plead not guilty to theft charges

Kimberly and Lonnie McCowan A Camarillo couple arrested last month in connection with a scheme that allegedly cost an elderly man his home pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges in Ventura County Superior Court Sept. 21.

Alonzo Gene McCowan, 49, and his 45yearold wife, Kimberly Ann Oglesby McCowan, were arrested Sept. 17 on theft and money laundering charges brought against them by the Ventura County District Attorney’s office.

Alonzo Gene McCowan, more commonly known as Rev. Lonnie McCowan, is the pastor of Solid Rock Christian Center in Ventura.

According to court records, Lonnie McCowan convinced Leo Gilmond, a now-86-year-old Ventura resident, to sign over the deed of his $460,000 home to the church in October 2004 so it could be used by church visitors and students.

Lonnie McCowan apparently paid Gilmond only about $10,000 for the home, court records show. The house went into foreclosure early last year shortly before Gilmond tried to collect the remaining $450,000 owed him by McCowan.

Court records show the McCowans borrowed a home loan worth $420,000 by refinancing the house in his wife’s name.

McCowan admitted he took the loan and that he’d lost the money in the stock market, according to court documents. Investigators said they could not find records of the lost money.

Frank Huber, an investigator with the district attorney’s office, said in the affidavit he filed that Lonnie McCowan “used his position of trust as a religious representative to prey upon elderly victims in the county of Ventura.”

The two sides reportedly reached an agreement in civil court last year. Specific details on the settlement were not available.

“I’ve read through the discovery that I’ve been provided by the DA’s office, and I frankly don’t see where the crime is,” said Ron Bamieh, the attorney representing the McCowans. “There is literally no evidence against Kimberly McCowan. . . . These charges don’t reflect what actually happened.”

Investigators said that shortly after Lonnie McCowan reportedly withdrew the $420,000 home loan, he put a down payment on another home in Camarillo. He then took a $336,000 loan on the second home using another name, court records show.

In both instances, the McCowans reported false information on their loan applications., according to court records.

Court records indicate that the McCowans pocketed $756,000 between the two real estate transactions.

Investigators with the district attorney’s office said the second loan was discovered earlier this year during an investigation of a complicated Ponzi scheme that lasted from 2004 to 2008 in Palm Desert and resulted in the arrests of Terry Tucker and Cheri Tucker, who pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud in March 2009.

According to court records, McCowan borrowed money for the second down payment from the Tuckers, who owned a Thousand Oaks-based company.

To read about the Tuckers’ crimes, see the Oct. 1 article “T.O. man says his childhood is to blame for his financial crimes” at www.toacorn.com.

Lonnie McCowan was charged with two counts of theft from an elderly person and two counts of money laundering.

He faces enhancement charges because the money allegedly taken was more than $500,000.

Kimberly McCowan was charged with single counts each of grand theft and money laundering. She also faces enhancement charges.

During a press conference at the Ventura church last week, Lonnie McCowan said the case against him is racially motivated.

“We are saying that we are uncomfortable with investigators assuming facts to be true based on our race and not on the facts,” McCowan said. “We are uncomfortable with people making statements about ‘How does a man like that afford a nice car or a nice house?’ We are uncomfortable with the tone and attitude expressed, as if to say, if my race has nice things, they must be doing something wrong.”

“That allegation is outrageous and completely baseless,” said James Ellison, chief assistant district attorney.

Lonnie McCowan faces a maximum of 15 years and four months in prison and will be required to pay $1.74 million in fines and restitution if convicted of all charges.

His wife faces a maximum sentence of six years and four months and would have to pay $250,000 in fines and restitution.

County prosecutors are asking anyone who might have additional information about the case to call the district attorney’s office at (805) 662-1724.