REV. HENRY LYONS ON TRIAL
				Background Feb. 11 Update Feb. 12 Update Feb. 18 Update Feb. 23 Update March 16 Update March 17 Update March 31 Update (State Sentencing) June 18 Update (Federal Sentencing Analysis)

LARGO, Fla. (Court TV) — Despite his pleas for mercy, a sobbing Rev. Henry Lyons was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison Wednesday for racketeering and grand theft.

On February 27, Lyons was convicted of swindling several corporations out of millions of dollars intended for his organization and using the funds to maintain a lavish lifestyle.

He was also convicted of misusing $250,000 from the Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'rith that was intended to rebuild Southern black churches destroyed by fires.

In addition to the prison sentence, Lyons was ordered Wednesday to pay back $2.5 million to the bilked companies.

Lyons, who pleaded guilty to related federal charges of tax evasion and fraud March 17, was imprisoned immediately after sentencing.

Judge Susan Schaeffer opted not to let the minister remain free until his federal sentencing June 18 and told him it was time pay for his sins.

"The jury has said you're a racketeer, and they said you're a thief," Judge Schaeffer said. "It's time to pay the piper, Dr. Lyons."

Lyons could have received up to eight years in prison under Florida sentencing guidelines. He tearfully told the judge that he was particularly sorry for misusing the donations intended for the burned black churches.

"It stinks in God's nostrils, and I know it stinks in the law's nostrils, and it stinks me," Lyons said. "I ask the court, and I ask America, and I ask black people to forgive me because I believe that it will haunt me the rest of my life. I really do."

Lyons' sentencing was the culmination of a month of repentance. Besides pleading guilty to the federal charges earlier this month, the reverand resigned as president of the National Baptist Convention USA.

As part of Lyons' federal plea deal, prosecutors dismissed 49 other charges that included money laundering, wire fraud, and extortion.

The minister pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, two counts of tax evasion, and one count each of making false statements to a bank officer and the federal government. Lyons' federal trial on the charges was expected to begin in April.

Lyons' wife, Deborah was at his side as he learned his sentence, though it was her actions that sparked the investigation leading to her husband's downfall.

Deborah Lyons burned down a $700,000 waterfront Florida home that her husband owned with his organization's public relations director, Bernice Edwards, who is also alleged to have been his mistress.

An investigation by state prosecutors and a series of reports by the St. Petersburg Times revealed a trail of records that suggested Lyons and Edwards had misused funds intended for the NBC.

Edwards, who was tried with Lyons, was acquitted of the charges but pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion last week. She is scheduled to be sentenced September 13.

Court TV's Bryan Robinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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