PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Eric Readon, the embattled pastor of New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, was arrested Thursday night in Pembroke Pines after being found driving a stolen luxury SUV, according to police. He bonded out of jail Friday.
This arrest adds to a growing list of legal troubles and fraud allegations that have plagued the 49-year-old South Florida preacher for years. He’s been the subject of several Local 10 News stories.
According to a police report, a license plate flagged a gray Land Rover with Florida tag DR99LP as stolen and officers located the vehicle parked outside an Avis rental office at 7944 Pines Blvd.
After confirming the vehicle was reported stolen by Braman Motors in Miami, officers conducted a felony stop. Readon, the sole occupant, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Broward County Main Jail on a grand theft auto charge.
Sources told Local 10 News that Readon acquired the high-priced SUV by presenting Braman Motors with a photo of a wire transfer as proof of payment.
The dealership later discovered the wire was never completed and requested the vehicle’s return, which Readon reportedly refused.
Readon’s arrest is the latest in a series of legal issues. In 2022, he was charged in Miami-Dade County with organized fraud, exploitation of the elderly and grand theft.
Prosecutors allege that Readon defrauded a 76-year-old man, Edward Fuller, out of his home and more than $267,000. Readon reportedly convinced Fuller to transfer partial ownership of his property under the pretense of securing a loan, then sold the house without Fuller’s knowledge or compensation.
In Broward County, Readon and his wife, Lakeisha, are being sued by Jannett Spence, who claims they illegally took ownership of her Davie home by altering the deed. The lawsuit alleges that Readon, through his company Worldwind Investment Group, failed to comply with the sales agreement, leaving Spence responsible for the mortgage and other loans.
Readon was charged in that case as well and he is out on bond pending trial.
Additionally, Readon has faced accusations of financial misconduct involving bounced checks. In 2019, roofer Jose Macedo reported that Readon wrote him several checks totaling $27,500 for roofing work, which bounced due to closed accounts. However, these charges were later dismissed, with Readon asserting that the allegations were fabricated.
Further allegations include claims that Readon bounced rent checks on a Miami Lakes house he was renting and failed to deliver a car after accepting a $3,000 deposit from a woman named Latasha Blue.
In late 2024, Readon’s church property was foreclosed upon after failing to make mortgage payments since July 2022. The property was sold at auction for $569,100, with records showing that Readon and his wife owed over $760,000 to City First Mortgage.
A suspicious fire broke out at the church, located at 2125 NW 155th St., on Oct. 6, 2024, just days before Readon was ordered to vacate the foreclosed property. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze, but it caused extensive interior damage. Readon claimed a neighbor saw masked individuals breaking in and setting the fire, prompting an arson investigation.
In 2020, Readon filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Local 10, alleging that their reporting on his business practices damaged his reputation.
The case was dismissed with prejudice, with the court finding that the reports were based on true statements, many of which were admitted by Readon himself.
The court also ordered Readon and his attorneys to pay over $70,000 in legal fees to WPLG. He was released on a $2,000 bond on Friday.
“Jesus always got into stuff, but guess what? God always brought him out,” Readon said after walking out of jail.
It is unclear whether he has retained legal representation for the latest charges.