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Nov. 14, 2023St. Joseph, Mo. |  By: Jeremy Werner

St. Joseph man pleads guilty to wire fraud scheme

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The founder of a Christian health care sharing ministry in St. Joseph pleaded guilty to orchestrating a multi-million dollar wire fraud conspiracy.

Craig Anthony Reynolds, 61, admitted to leading the fraudulent scheme through his organization, Medical Cost Sharing, where he collected over $8 million in member contributions while paying only 3.1% in health care claims.

Reynolds marketed the organization as a "Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry," promising to help members with healthcare costs.

However, investigations revealed that Medical Cost Sharing rarely paid health care claims and filed false tax returns, understating compensation.

Reynolds faces up to 23 years in federal prison without parole and must forfeit ill-gotten gains, including residences and a motorcycle, while paying nearly $168,000 in restitution.

The sentencing will follow a pre-sentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.