Former AC Transit executive convicted of stealing from church

Former Alameda-Contra Costa Transit chief financial officer Lewis Clinton was convicted Monday of four counts of grand theft and other charges for stealing more than $500,000 from nonprofits associated with one of Oakland’s largest and most prominent churches.

Jurors, who deliberated for two days, also convicted Clinton, 60, of tax evasion, money laundering and perjury for taking money from the foundations associated with Allen Temple Baptist Church in East Oakland between April 2007 through February 2013.

Clinton had been free on $100,000 bail but after he was convicted, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Scott Patton remanded him into custody and he’s now being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin until he’s sentenced on Sept. 8.

Clinton, who had more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, headed a foundation the church created to accept philanthropic gifts and was board president of two church-run tax-exempt corporations that provide housing and other services to low- and moderate-income people in Oakland.

Clinton initially was put on paid administrative leave after he was arrested and charged in April 2014 and retired in November 2014.

Prosecutors said Clinton used funds from the nonprofits for mortgage payments on his home, tuition payments for private schools for his children, loan payments, personal real estate tax payments, a golf club membership and the purchase of at least one luxury car.