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June 30, 2024St. Joseph, Mo. |  By: Jeremy Werner

Co-founder of false ministry sentenced in scheme

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - A co-founder of a so-called Christian health care sharing ministry in St. Joseph was sentenced to 17-and-a-half years in federal prison for his role in an $8 million wire fraud scheme.

62-year-old Craig Anthony Reynolds was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays.

He was also ordered to pay nearly eight million dollars in restitution to the victims, over $250,000 to the IRS, and additional restitution to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Reynolds ran Medical Cost Sharing, a tax-exempt organization, from 2014 to 2022.

He and co-defendant James L. McGinnis used false promises to market the organization as a “Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry,” collecting over $8 million from members while paying out only 3.1% in health care claims.

They pocketed at least 64% of the contributions for personal profit. The scheme was uncovered after members complained about unpaid claims.