Pastor, wife convicted of mortgage fraud scheme

MIAMI (AP) — A South Florida pastor and his wife have been convicted in Miami federal court on charges that they took part in a $7 million money laundering and mortgage fraud scheme.

Garry and Yvonne Souffrant, of Davie, were convicted Monday. They had been charged with conspiring to defraud banks and launder drug traffickers’ profits to buy properties in South Florida and Georgia.

Authorities say Garry Souffrant, a pastor at God First Ministries in Miami Gardens, and his wife used their family real estate business to help drug traffickers buy homes and luxury automobiles.

The couple faces 5 to 30 years in prison for the crime.