CENTENNIAL — A judge accepted a plea agreement that will keep the Rev. Acen Phillips, charged with insurance fraud of more than a half-million dollars, out of prison.
At a hearing this afternoon in Arapahoe County District Court, 12 felony counts against Phillips were dropped, and he pleaded guilty to one count of felony theft by receiving.
He will be required to pay restitution of $500,000. Phillips will serve 100 hours of community service and be on probation for eight years. A lawsuit filed against him in federal court would be dismissed.
“I want an opportunity to redeem myself in this community,” Phillips said in court.
The alleged victims were members of Mount Gilead Baptist Church and New Birth Church. Phillips was pastor at both.
He was charged last year after federal authorities said he stole or attempted to steal more than $575,000 by making bogus life-insurance claims to AIG Life Insurance Co. AIG will get the restitution he agreed to pay.
He faced up to 81 years in prison and $5 million in fines if he had gone to trial and was convicted.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
