What crime did Jim Bakker commit?
Jim Bakker was convicted of eight counts of mail fraud, fifteen counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy in 1989. He was sentenced to forty-five years in prison and a $500,000 fine. In 1991 his sentence was voided in appeal and he was sentenced to 18 years. He was granted parole in 1993 after serving five years in prison.1 The convictions were for offering lifetime memberships on air and through mail for various benefits such as three to four night stays at the Heritage Grand Hotel once per year for life. The money was to be used to build the hotel or other properties where memberships were offered, but the money was used instead to finance payroll, television coverage, or other expenses, including lavish bonuses for the Bakkers and other high-ranking staff members. Bakker also oversold the memberships and people trying to claim their benefit of lodging were turned away when the hotel and other accommodations booked past capacity. In 1986 the Heritage Grand Hotel was booked pa
