Bishop Pleads Guilty To Fraud Charges

Kevin Thomas, 51, plead guilty to five felonies for communications fraud, theft and unlawful activity, as well as three misdemeanors for theft and vehicle burglary. Thomas originally faced 20 charges spread across three separate cases, but those charges were reduced as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors.

Thomas's largest group of charges stemmed from allegations that, among other things, he used his one-time position as an LDS bishop to con an elderly man out of his life savings. According to a police affidavit, Thomas used his leadership position in and knowledge of the LDS Church to earn the man's friendship. The man reportedly had saved more than $400,000 throughout the course of his life, and he turned it over to Thomas believing it was secured with property and promissory notes.

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Thomas made token payments to the man to convince him that he was making a great return on his investment, the affidavit reveals. However, the payments eventually stopped and the man learned of his losses.