Activist Sentenced For Defrauding Minister

Friday, June 30, 2006 | 9:22 PM

Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison

  By Cheryl Jennings

June 30 - KGO (KGO) -- A well-known community activist was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for defrauding her own minister in Oakland in a real estate scam. The pastor, Bishop Ernestine Reems, will be 77 next week and almost lost the house in which she was going to retire with her husband. It was an emotionally charged and tearful sentencing, with supporters for both sides in the courtroom.

Bishop Ernestine Reems, Center of Hope Community Church: "It was very painful because it was someone I had mentored for 16 years. I really loved this young lady, she traveled around the country with me, it was just overwhelming for me."

Seventy-seven-year-old Bishop Ernestine Reems of Oakland stood outside the Alameda County Courthouse today after she testified as a victim. She was surrounded by her husband, family and friends.

It was an elderly real estate fraud case involving two pieces of property, one was her retirement home. It cost her thousands and thousands of dollars.

Bishop Reems: "I almost lost everything. When I found out, I didn't even know what was going on. These things were done in my name. She stole my entire identity."

The woman who defrauded her is 49-year-old Shirleetha Holmes. Holmes had been an important part of Bishop Reems' life at the Center of Hope Community Church found by the bishop, until that trust was broken. The church provides a school in the heart of East Oakland, as well as senior housing among its many services.

We were not allowed to bring our cameras inside the courtroom of Judge Julie Conger who sentenced Holmes to 10 years in state prison, plus $10,000 in fines and restitution of $200,000.

David Lim, deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case, stated, "She used the information she had gotten from the bishop, W-2 forms, her pay stubs, her bank account info, and took a $200,000 line of credit against the Dublin home without her knowledge."

He said Holmes blew through the money to live large, including fancy trips and restaurants.

Bishop Reems: "I don't hate her, I love her. I've forgiven her."

Bishop Reems says she will use her experience to help other seniors at her Center of Hope Community Church in East Oakland. She also wants to work with the district attorney's office to educate people about elder fraud.