TULSA, Okla. –Former Vernon AME Church Senior Pastor Keith Rydell Mayes Sr. pleaded guilty Monday to bank fraud and tax evasion after prosecutors said he embezzled more than $504,000 from the Tulsa church.
Mayes, 63, served as senior pastor of the historic Tulsa-based church beginning in October 2021. According to court documents, he oversaw church finances and managed donations, collections and disbursements.
The plea agreement requires Mayes to forfeit firearms and ammunition purchased with fraudulent funds and repay $504,313.88, including $205,765.60 owed to the Internal Revenue Service.
Mayes opened church account under administrative expenses
Shortly after joining Vernon AME Church, Mayes opened a new bank account titled “Administrative Expenses,” according to court documents.
Mayes was the only authorized signer on the account and used his personal residence as the mailing address.
Prosecutors said Mayes solicited, obtained and deposited voluntary donations from church members and charitable organizations into the account.
$365,000 in stock donations transferred
In one instance, a church donor and the donor’s financial adviser contacted Mayes about a stock donation intended for the church.
After the conversation, Mayes opened a brokerage account in the church’s name to receive the donation, according to court documents.
Mayes received $365,000 in stock transfers from the donor in 2021 and 2022, the documents show. He then liquidated the stock, deposited the proceeds into the church’s bank account and embezzled most of the money for personal use.
More than $504,000 embezzled
Court documents show that Mayes embezzled more than $504,000 from at least March 2022 through at least November 2025.
Prosecutors said Mayes used the money to support gambling, pay personal expenses and purchase firearms.
Mayes did not report the illegal income to the IRS, leaving him with more than $205,000 in unpaid taxes.
Mayes agrees to repay money, forfeit firearms
Under the plea agreement filed Monday, Mayes agreed to repay $504,313.88 for his embezzlement activities.
Of that amount, $205,765.60 will go to the IRS for unpaid taxes.
Mayes also agreed to forfeit the firearms and ammunition purchased with the fraudulent funds.
Sentencing hearing to be scheduled
After appearing in court Monday, Mayes was released on bond and placed under supervision of the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.
A federal district court judge will schedule Mayes’ sentencing hearing for a later date.
