Judge Martin Reidinger approved moving the trial of Diane McKinny to June 25th. The Motion filed by McKinny’s attorney, Amos Tyndall, was unopposed by counsel for the United States. Tyndall said he needed more time to review the evidence and a few potential witnesses had previously arranged plans to travel out of the country during May.

McKinny is the fourth member of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) to face charges in an ongoing Federal investigation. Previously, three members considered leadership pleaded guilty to their charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Dr. Jerry Gross and his son, Jason Gross, of the defunct Foot and Ankle Center of the Carolinas pleaded guilty and each was sentenced to three years of probation.

Earlier this month, a fourth member in leadership at WOFF, Marion Kent Covington was sentenced to 34 months of prison after he pleaded guilty last year to charges resulting from the same Unemployment Benefits fraud scheme. Based on evidence presented in court proceedings, he was determined to be the “Organizer” of the scheme and thus incurred a prison sentence. All indications are that he began serving his sentence last week. However, the website listing this public information has not been updated to show where he will serve his term.

Covington’s attorney, Stephen Cash, presented letters of character endorsement to the court for the Judge’s consideration. Originally sealed, the Judge ordered them unsealed and Thursday, they were available for public view.

Letters provide insight into WOFF

Before I provide excerpts from the letters, let me acknowledge that I don’t know if the letters were approved by Jane Whaley or Brooke Covington. It is easy for me to believe they were, but I can’t be certain. We don’t know if there were more letters submitted and these are the ones that made the cut. Six adults and one child submitted letters. The handwritten one from the child has an extra tidbit which I will explain.

Also, I have no doubt that everything in each letter is sincerely believed by the writer of the letter. In no way am I insinuating any of them was coerced to provide their letter. We take them at face value as the Judge was compelled to do as well.

The first scanned letter was from Attorney Gabrielle Valentine. You may remember her husband, Josh Valentine, submitted a letter on Jason Gross’ behalf. Gabrielle details her early years of an at times, absent and other times, abusive father. She recounts the provisions Kent and Brooke made for her family when her father was with them and when he wasn’t.

It was odd that she said Kent regularly took her dad fishing on the weekends. When I was in WOFF, we were told not to go fishing, “unless it was an approved ministry trip.” That event was announced as a once a year fishing trip to South Carolina to “minister” to David Caulder’s brother on Isle of Palms. Maybe they caught more than fish, I don’t know. I never went.

Gabrielle extols Kent’s virtues.

“Kent picked me up from school every afternoon, gave us money for food, bought my mother new tires for her car, gave us his personal vehicle to drive for six months when ours was totaled, and paid many of our bills…he was without question a true father to me and he continues to be.”

As she explains the monetary provisions he gave to her family, she fails to say of any of these were during the period of the fraud scheme. (2008 to 2013) If they were, then she is asking mercy for a man who pleaded guilty to a crime for which she benefitted. As a criminal defense attorney, how does this get overlooked? She is 24 now. She was still in the church run school during the scheme.

Gabrielle follows her husband when she calls this crime a “mistake.”

“— I have never seen him to intentionally do anything he knows to be wrong. …If I have ever known Kent to make a mistake, he is humble, takes responsibility, and will not rest until he rectifies the mistake. … I firmly believe that any mistake in this matter was made out of ignorance and not motivated by self-interest, an intent to defraud anyone, or a desire for personal financial benefit; but to the contrary, I believe Kent’s actions were intended to help others.”

I call this the “Robin Hood defense.” Though he robbed from the rich- the US and State Government; his intentions were to give the stolen goods or monies to the “poor.” Gabreille, by her own words, appears to have benefited as one of the “poor” during the years of the scheme.

Samuel Staton submitted a letter beginning with the reason we should listen to him.

“… I am a Certified Public Accountant and President of Staton CPA, P.C. … I have known Kent for at least 16 years…”

Samuel knew Kent during the years of the scheme and he also asserted the “Robin Hood Defense,” in a roundabout way.

“He (Kent) and his wife have housed, clothed, and fed numerous individuals who were struggling in life.”

Samuel saw Kent giving “the spoils” to the “poor.” He is not saying he benefited himself, but he saw others who did.

“There is no better person that will be patient and listen to anyone who has struggles than Kent.. I have personally sought his counsel and have received invaluable words of wisdom.”

Samuel includes several observations and endorsements which sound shallow. Then he reveals the reason his heart is not in this letter.

“I am aware that Kent has pled guilty in federal court. I am not knowledgeable of all the specific details of the case; however, I do not believe Kent would knowingly do wrong based on his character.”

So, not only did he give the “Robin Hood Defense,” he added the “Ostrich Defense.” I am a CPA and President of a CPA firm and I deal with numbers all day. BUT- on this matter, even though he “pled guilty,” I am going to stick my head in the sand, ignore the details and tell the Judge he should consider my opinion. What?

If you are a CPA- wouldn’t you want to know the details to verify if you were somehow liable because you complete tax forms for WOFF members? Unless, you were not allowed to read the Factual Basis of the case? Which is it? Self-imposed ignorance or WOFF-imposed ignorance? Either way, your letter doesn’t hold much weight.

The next letter is submitted by Butch Maltby. He calls himself “Strategic Advisor” Compedia Ltd, Israel & USA. This letter confuses me. Butch came to WOFF about three maybe four years ago. He was not even a part of WOFF during the scheme. Why should the Judge consider this letter? It sounded like a man who was telling what he had heard others say about Kent without him ever really knowing Kent. The letter reads like a script for a commercial on YouTube.

Cherish Renee dos Santos’ letter was also included. Like Gabrielle, she portrays herself as one who benefited from the fraud scheme. Let me explain – in her words.

“I have known Kent Covington for almost 11 years.”

That places her in WOFF during the scheme years- 2008 – 2013.

“… When I have needed mortgage money, he gave me money. When I needed food and diapers, he bought me food and diapers. When he saw my daughter lacked, he provided whatever he need was – from school supplies to shoes and clothes. Whatever we needed, he was and is my dad…”

“… As I recently went through a divorce, Kent was the one who made sure I had an oil change, new tires, upkeep of my home.”

“Honorable Judge Reidinger, I am writing you with all respect for any measure of mercy for Kent Covington – a dad, Poppy, a friend, a loving dear person to my family—to me, to my children.”

This was a very emotional letter. It is clear; Cherish cherishes what Kent did for her- to the point of extreme.

Justin Covington’s letter is next. He gives the well-intended “Robin Hood Defense” for Kent’s crime. I will make it clear using Justin’s words.

He leads by explaining his terrible early home life.

“…I was a crack baby. I seriously abused, molested, and starved as a child…. It took a father like Kent Covington to save me and heal my broken heart. He was more than a father figure, he was my everything!”

Okay, we overlook the over-sell. After all, these are desperate times for desperate people.

“He has never been a money hungry man, but has given his life and money to everyone… He has a big heart and never had intentions of doing wrong… Yes, he has made mistakes but my dad is the first to want to make thing(s) right…I can’t imagine a day without my dad. He means the world to me.”

A summary of this shows the “Robin Hood Defense.” Kent gives to everyone with no wrong intentions, even if he got the money by his mistakes. In short, Judge, it’s all good. He meant no wrong and stealing from the US and NC Government was just a well-intended mistake.

W. Kenneth Brock’s letter is the last from an adult. Kenneth is Jane’s brother. He does not justify a mistake. He just says Kent did not intentionally do wrong; this is more of the “Good Ole Boy” defense.

Kent helps folks of all ages. He helped an aunt of 85 and one of 99. How can you fault a man who helps old people?

“I know him well enough that he would never do anything wrong intentionally. He is loved by many and is the most kind hearted man I have ever known…”

Mr. Brock says nothing about knowing to what charges Kent pleaded guilty. Mr. Brock just wants us to know Kent is “loving, caring and kind.”

The last letter is handwritten from a young child. Attorney Cash presented it as Exhibit #2 during the hearing. He announced it in court as a letter which must have somehow not been picked up when the others were submitted. He held the letter as if it were a special art piece. Asking permission from US Attorney Bradley and seeking permission to approach the bench; he carefully handed the letter to the Judge. We all sat silent as Judge Reidinger read the letter. Once he was finished, he placed the letter to the side and looked uninterested and not impressed. The pure staginess of Cash might have hit a sour note with the Judge.

The name is redacted. I will only provide a couple of lines and a summary in order to not add weight to it.

“…I am writing to tell you how much I love Kent Covington, my Poppy. Every day he gets me from school. We get ice cream together. I also go to work with him. When my mommy works I stay with him…I’m very grateful for him. He is such a blessing for me and my family…”

She goes on to talk about what she does with Kent, reading, playing games and such.

“Please, let Poppy stay with me. It will not be the same with out him. I pray for miracle.”

Attorney Cash played the High-emotion card. We will never know his real reasons, but it was predictable as I mentioned in a previous post. Cash was giving it his all.

What do we conclude from these letters? Whether it was orchestrated or not we will not know; but most called Kent’s crime a mistake and gave him a pass because of good intentions. Two letter writers tell us they benefited from the Kent’s generosity during the period of the scheme. In my eyes, that fact confirms the elusiveness of accurate perception inside WOFF. Why would these letter writers admit this? I don’t believe they understood their statements; they were caught up in the emotion and desperation of the times.

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Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

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(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation) This is post number 662.