MIAMI – A pastor in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood is facing federal criminal charges after investigators said he collected on a dead person’s Social Security benefits for more than a decade.
Michael Gene Bryant, 57, is facing charges including theft of government funds and making false statements to a federal agency. He is the pastor of Greater Sweetfield Missionary Baptist Church, located at 3585 Plaza St.
According to a federal indictment, Bryant became the representative payee for a person identified in court documents as “H. L. G.” in 1996.
“H. L. G.” died on Oct. 17, 2012, but authorities said Bryant never informed Social Security and kept collecting payments until this January. Prosecutors said he lied on government documents and claimed the beneficiary still lived with him.
The documents don’t state how much money authorities are accusing Bryant of collecting.
No one came to the door when Local 10 News went to Bryant’s home to ask him about the charges.
A former parishioner said she’s “shocked” by the allegations and “in disbelief.”
“That is like unbelievable to me,” Charolette Smith, who lives right next to the church, said. “You go there to hear the word. Coming from a pastor, it’s like, what are you doing?”
He could face up to two decades behind bars.
Read the indictment: