Eric Readon, the Miami Gardens pastor convicted last year in a high-profile elderly-exploitation case, is out of county jail after serving close to a year and is being openly welcomed back by members of New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church. His return follows a plea deal that capped his jail time and ordered restitution to his victim, and it is already stirring fresh criticism from neighbors and elder advocates who say the celebration raises serious questions about how faith leaders are held accountable when they target seniors’ finances.
A flyer circulating online promotes a "Readon Returns" worship service set for Sunday from 8:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the church’s Northwest 170th Street location. The leaflet identifies him as "Pastor Eric Readon," and, as reported by Local 10, the church is inviting worshippers back into the pews even though it remains unclear what official role Readon will hold or whether his probation terms will limit any ministry work.
Allegations and the victim's loss
Prosecutors say Readon exploited retired postal worker Edward Fuller, convincing the then 76-year-old that he needed to transfer a share of his home so Readon could help secure construction financing. Records from the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office describe a series of deed transfers that, according to the state, ultimately left Fuller without his house at 10911 NW 19th Avenue and more than $267,000 in the hole.
In the office’s 2022 press release, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said, "There is something particularly galling when an alleged fraudster snatches away the very hopes and dreams of one of our senior residents."
Plea deal, sentence and time served
Readon pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of exploitation of an elderly person under a negotiated deal that called for a 364-day county-jail term, 15 years of probation and $180,000 in restitution to Fuller, according to court records and reporting. He surrendered on July 15, 2025, to begin serving the sentence and, after credit for time already served and jail gain-time, was released after roughly 303 days, Local 10 reported.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Christine Hernández later rejected Readon’s bid to withdraw his guilty plea, finding that the record showed he had entered into the agreement knowingly and voluntarily.
Past controversies and local reaction
Readon has long been a visible figure in Miami Gardens community work and anti-violence campaigns, a profile that once made him a go-to presence at local events. His legal problems, however, have split residents and worshippers. Reporting by the Miami Herald shows he at times rejected plea offers and faced related property disputes and settlements that have shadowed his ministry for years, fueling debate over whether a return to the pulpit should come with strict limits or no return at all.
Legal implications and what to watch
Under the plea terms, Readon’s county-jail stint is followed by a lengthy probation period and court-ordered restitution. Any violation of those conditions or new criminal charges could lead to the deal being revoked and additional time in custody.
It is not clear from public filings whether Fuller has received any of the $180,000 in restitution or how pending civil claims and bankruptcy-related filings involving Readon and his church will ultimately be sorted out. For now, court dockets and statements from prosecutors remain the key places to watch for the next developments in a case that is not quite finished, even if its central figure is back in the sanctuary.
