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LUBBOCK, Texas—A former Lubbock pastor convicted of pocketing more than $500,000 in federal funds meant for needy children over summer breaks was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison Monday. James Cornell Clark, former pastor of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, was convicted in January on 41 counts of fraud, laundering and other charges. Prosecutors say Clark created the businesses to receive funds for the Summer Food Program, created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide nutritious meals for children when school is closed.

He was sentenced to 19 years and seven months. A federal judge Monday also handed down a concurrent 10-year sentence for a December conviction of importation of an alien for immoral purposes.