Upper Darby Church Deacon Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Church
by Alex Lloyd Gross
Willie Jordon, 58,of Upper Darby Pa entered a guilty plea to two counts of wire fraud in federal court, officials said. Jorson was in a position of trust and allowed him to exercise almost total control over its funds. He did not receive a salary from his church, Rather, he received his salary from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he was a Director of Operations for an unnamed state senator.
From at least in or about January 2020 through at least in or about January 2024, Jordan wrote check that made it appear he was reimbursing himself for legitimate funds he spent on church business. He was not.
Jordan did not incur those expenses and simply issued those checks for his personal benefit. The defendant engaged in this activity fraudulently and without the knowledge or permission of the church organization trustees, or members.
As part of this scheme, Jordan issued approximately 82 fraudulent checks to himself totaling approximately $57,384, resulting in significant losses to the church..
In addition to that, Jordan from 1996 through in or about April 2025, he was the elected leader of a political organization and controlled and managed the organization’s finances. Jordan did not receive a salary from this organization .
From January 2020, through at least in or about January 2024, Jordan exploited them for his personal financial benefit. He opened two bank accounts in name of the political organization , made himself the sole signatory on the accounts and obtained, for both accounts, debit cards that he controlled.
On a regular basis, the defendant improperly conducted financial transactions, through debit card charges, checks, and ATM cash withdrawals, using the political organization’s bank accounts to transfer the funds to himself or others, for his personal benefit.
Over $85,000 was stolen from the political organization. Jordan will be sentenced November 19,2025 and could face as much as 20 years in federal prison.