Disgraced pastor turns down year offer and now faces a jury, life in prison
Eric Readon, a controversial Miami Gardens pastor arrested three years ago on charges of stealing an elderly man’s Northwest Miami-Dade home, turned down a plea deal from the state Wednesday and now could spend the rest of his life in prison.
By turning down the state’s offer of a year in prison and a decade of probation, Readon, 49, could end up behind bars from anywhere between six years to more than six decades, for the crimes he is accused of committing.
Before Readon decided to leave his fate in jurors’ hands, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Christine Hernandez warned the pastor of the vast gulf between the state’s offer and a guilty verdict.
“This is your life,” Hernandez said. “It’s a decision you have to make with the consultation of your lawyer.”
Readon, who has been out of jail since his February 2022 arrest, quickly left the court hearing, his attorney at his side. Hernandez set a trial date for July 7.
The pastor is accused of swindling retiree Edward Fuller out of his $267,000 home on Northwest 19th Avenue. The scheme, state prosecutors said, involved Readon guaranteeing a loan to refurbish the home in exchange for the senior signing over the deed to the property and paying Readon a $15,000 fee.
Readon is facing charges of exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, organized scheme to defraud, conspiracy to commit organized scheme to defraud, theft from a person 65 years or older, and grand theft.
The disgraced pastor — who court records show served probation for strong-armed robbery and grand theft over two decades ago — led New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church in Northwest Miami-Dade. He made a name for himself fighting gun violence, often showing up at rallies and seen comforting grieving family members.
A call to the church Wednesday said the number had been disconnected.
Readon reached a plea deal last month with the Broward State Attorney’s Office over allegations that he also fraudulently stole properties in Davie and Lauderdale Lakes. The Davie property was worth $1.7 million. As part of the deal in which he avoided admitting guilt but agreed to a punishment, Readon paid one of the property owners $150,000 and the other $46,500.
He also agreed to two years of house arrest and 10 years probation and to repay all restitution before he can be considered for early termination of probation. Both victims won back their properties after legal battles.
Readon was also arrested in April in Pembroke Pines. Charging documents say he used false paperwork in a wire transfer when he bought a Range Rover from Miami’s Braman Motors. The case was later closed. Though the state prosecutor indicated Wednesday that if Readon didn’t agree to the plea offer, the stolen vehicle charge could resurface.
This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM.
