“The seed that God has placed in you is more than enough for you to get to your destiny,” Southall said during the livestream. Though Southall did not make an explicit reference to money, the language of “sowing a seed” is commonly used among prosperity preachers asking for donations.
Southall addressed his conviction at the end of the livestream, saying, “Today, I appeared in court, and I’ve seen the article that was put in the paper—the article is not completely accurate. It’s not.”
“It was not money laundering, at all. It was something that went against the banking laws that I pled to. Because they said it was illegal for me to move money from an account that I had to an account that I have,” Southall continued. “That’s what I pleaded to…The judge accepted it, and it’s called a plea deal, simply because they had a whole lot of other stuff that went away, simply because a lot of it was untrue.”
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Southall went on to say, “According to the law, I have made some missteps, and for that I’m remorseful. I’m very concerned. But I accepted the responsibility that they said when I moved the money from the account that I had to an account that I have, that it was wrong. I did not think it was, but it went against federal banking laws.”
“But I’m here today, and I will speak publicly to our church to say that I’m sorry for whatever I may have done that caused me to be in this position,” Southall expressed. “I love you more than words, and I thank God for you. And I thank God for you listening to me tonight.”
Southall said that he would be preaching at First Emanuel Baptist Church on Sunday, “like God has called” him to do.
“Thank you, those of you that prayed for me and that are still praying for me, because I still need your prayers. And those of you that don’t pray for me, I’m praying for you,” Southall said, “that God would touch your heart and let you understand that there was nothing malicious that I tried to do to go forward, and I did not receive anything that was not due me, in my mind.”
According to prosecutors, Southall will be required to pay restitution to his victims. He will be obligated to repay $687,000 to First Emanuel Baptist Church, roughly $85,000 to the Spirit of Excellence Academy, and over $110,000 to two individual victims.
The crimes to which Southall has pleaded guilty carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. However, Southall is not likely to receive the maximum sentence, as this is his first conviction and he has cooperated with prosecutors by pleading guilty.
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Southall will appear in court for sentencing on January 17, 2023.
