SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Mary Cosby has filed a lawsuit against two executives for her church’s for-profit financial business arm, accusing the two of embezzling millions of dollars.
Cosby, who is the Faith Temple Pentecostal Church’s vice president, and her husband Robert Cosby, the church’s president, filed the lawsuit on Wednesday. They are seeking nearly $6.3 million from Annie Johnson, Shawn Turner, and the business firm, United Security Financial.
According to the lawsuit, Johnson is a former member of Faith Temple and served as the President of USF while Turner is listed as the Secretary of USF.
The lawsuit alleges Johnson and Turner misappropriated church funds for personal use by securing loans against Faith Temple property, including a loan where Robert Cosby’s signature was reportedly forged.
ABC4 has reached out to the lawyers on both sides but has not heard back at the time of publication.
Johnson and Turner are also accused of wrongfully dismantling and selling an AM radio station. The radio station, which was purchased in 1991, according to the lawsuit, was reportedly paid for with church funds. Johnson allegedly put her name on the title of the property instead Faith Temple or USF, according to the lawsuit.
The radio station remained in operation, broadcasting for Faith Temple’s religious purposes before Johnson allegedly began dismantling operations in 2017.
“Other members and leaders in the church were unaware as to Johnson’s purpose in doing so, but trusted Johnson to act in the interests of Faith Temple and USF,” the lawsuit reads. “The radio station went off the air on April 30, 2017.”
After the station went off-air, Johnson allegedly demolished the radio tower and sold the property to her son, who then sold the property to a third party for $4.3 million.
The lawsuit further alleges Johnson funneled Faith Temple tithes and offerings into her own personal accounts. She would also intimidate USF employees with “intimidation, threats, verbal abuse, racial degradation, and physical abuse” to cash USF checks and give her the money directly, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims Johnson and Turner “aided and abetted” each other in the misuse of USF funds.
We’ll update this story with comment from all parties as it becomes available.
