Ex-pastor, school official faces life in prison for teen sex charge

By Paula Mcmahon
Sun Sentinel
August 25, 2015

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-jeffery-london-sentenced-20150825-story.html

Jeffery London, 51, was acquitted of 27 child sexual abuse charges in Broward Circuit Court but convicted of one federal charge of using a cellphone to entice an underage boy into sexual activity.

Jeffery London, 51, faces a maximum punishment of life in federal prison when he is sentenced Tuesday for using a cell phone to entice an underage boy to engage in sexual activity.

Former church youth pastor, charter school leader and unofficial foster parent Jeffery London faces a maximum of life in federal prison when he is sentenced today for using a cellphone to lure an underage boy into sexual activity with him.

But London's defense says he should get a maximum punishment of 15 years for the lone sex crime he has been convicted of committing.

London, 51, was acquitted of 27 state child sex abuse charges after a jury trial in state court in Broward in April 2014.

But in June, another jury found him guilty of persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing a 16-year old boy to engage in sexual activity after a separate trial in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.The victim, now 20, testified that London started sexually abusing him when he was 7 years old and the abuse went on until he was 16. The victim went to live with London because his mother was experiencing financial hardship and London offered to "help," according to court records.

London sometimes made the boy sleep in his bed and the abuse escalated over the years, investigators said. London had oral and anal sex with the boy, played pornographic videos for him, forced him to participate in "threesomes," and gave him money and other valuables in exchange for sex, prosecutors wrote.

London ran unlicensed foster homes he called "London's Hotel" in Lauderdale Lakes and Coral Springs. He served as youth pastor at the Bible Church of God in Fort Lauderdale and was dean of students at Eagle Academy charter school in Lauderdale Lakes, where he was in charge of disciplining students.

Federal prosecutors say London abused his prestige in the community and the authoritative role he played in children's lives to sexually abuse many boys over the years. They say he deserves life in prison because of the severity of the crime.

"London has been accused by nearly a dozen young men of sexually molesting them while they were minors and under his custodial responsibility…," prosecutor Francis Viamontes wrote. "Using lies, trickery, and instilling the fear of 'God' in his victims, London feigned wholesome and benevolent intentions, which were in actuality, an attempt to lure innocent young boys into his bedroom and force them to become objects of his deviant fantasies."

Though London was only convicted of the one charge, prosecutors are urging U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas to consider testimony from at least two other young men who have accused London of sexually abusing them when they were children.

The Sun Sentinel is not identifying any of the young men because of the nature of the allegations.

The two young men testified in the federal trial that London molested them in similar ways after meeting them through family, church, school and youth group activities.

London's lawyer Assistant Federal Public Defender Daryl Wilcox asked the judge to consider only the offense that London was convicted of and to not let himself be influenced by the allegations that London has either been found not guilty of or has never been formally charged with committing.

"The federal charge — using a [cellphone] to entice a 16-year old to engage in sexual activity — is overshadowed by the conduct of which Mr. London was acquitted — having sex with a child under 12," Wilcox wrote.

Judges are allowed to consider "without limitation, any information concerning the background, character and conduct of the defendant, unless otherwise prohibited by law," prosecutors wrote.