Fairley, aged 62, has been charged with multiple charges. He is accused of conspiring to defraud $160,000 from the U.S. government through a housing rehabilitation program. Fairley could spend up to 20 years prison if he is found guilty. The five-day trial saw the local televangelist and senior Pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church Complex sit quietly at the defense table while his lawyers tried to convince the jury that he was innocent. Rows of his friends and supporters sat behind him, including Sandra Delgado, a city councilwoman, and Dessie Minor, a parishioner. Fairley appears tired, and his eyes are reddened from his court appearances. According to his wife, he just returned from Atlanta to undergo treatment for prostate cancer. Fairley is not everyone’s favorite, but it’s easy to find people who do not like him. However, they are reluctant to give their names or discuss specific issues. Tom Gorman, the owner of the lively internet blog “Hattiesburg Pat,” said he understood why. Gorman stated that he understands why people don’t want their names to be used to talk about Ken Fairley. He noted that he has written extensively on local politics, and has had to slit tires and bust windshields. Delgado regularly attends Fairley’s trial to support him. Fairley isn’t just a pastor in a large congregation. He also mentors and trains people about local elections. Through the many terms of Mayor Johnny Dupree’s tenure, he was his high school classmate’s campaign manager. Fairley and Dupree were the first African-American athletes to integrate Hattiesburg Blair High School’s football team. Fairley was the team captain. Fairley’s defense witness, Dupree, testified briefly on Saturday. He is always interested in leveling the political playing fields. Delgado (64), who has known Fairley for 45 year, said that he does it like none other. She laughed when she mentioned Fairley as a groomsman at her wedding. Delgado stated, “He’s got an enormous target on his back. It’s heartbreaking.” He’s being painted as an evil person by a lot of people. He feeds the hungry, and he’s not well.” Foxworth native Minor has this to say about Fairley. She has seen him at work. Minor, 67 was once the Mount Carmel administrator. It is located on West Main Street. In 1997, the congregation moved to this location to open a day care center, an elementary school, and a community development company called Pinebelt Community Services. Minor, a former Santa Fe Railroad employee, stated that Minor’s vision was to help the community with education, voter registration, and rebuilding community housing. “It’s such a progressive congregation – but the storm took everything away.” Hattiesburg was devastated by an EF-4 tornado in 2013. It also destroyed large swathes of Hattiesburg, including portions of the University of Southern Mississippi campus. The storm took a toll on Mount Carmel Church. It is now a shell of what it was before the storm. The church looks a lot like a zombie, with large darkened gaps and roof cracks. The bank that holds the mortgage is receiving federal disaster assistance instead of the church, putting the repairs on hold. Minor said that Fairley’s federal fraud investigation and the resulting charges against him have had a devastating effect on repairs, citing the church’s small congregation and financial difficulties. Marcus Dupree is one person many are expecting to appear for the jury verdict. He was one of the most outstanding high school athletes to ever come out of Mississippi. After being heavily recruited from Neshoba County, Dupree left Oklahoma after his sophomore year. He was disillusioned with coaching criticisms. Dupree was then 20 years old when he met Fairley. Fairley promised to enroll Dupree at the University of Southern Mississippi and get him playing football. Mississippi Today could not contact Dupree. The relationship between Dupree, Fairley is detailed in legal documents and “The Best That Never Was” documentary by ESPN’s 30 For 30 show. Alvin Kidd, Dupree’s childhood friend, said that Fairley told Dupree while he was at Oklahoma that he “deserved what other kids got,” such as new cars, fancy clothes, and apartments. Barry Switzer, a former Oklahoma coach, says that Fairley wanted Dupree to go to USM to gain control and promote him to professional football. Kidd stated that Fairley was “working under the table” with the USFL, the fledgling and short-lived U.S. Football League. Kidd stated that it was all about keeping Fairley’s hands on him. (Marcus was his prize bull). Dupree signed a five-year, $5-million contract with the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers. According to the film, Dupree was on the field running, but Fairley was managing his paychecks with power of attorney. Dupree, who was hurt and could not play, said that Fairley had been running his pay checks with power of attorney. Due to legal demands, Dupree “had to pay a large check to avoid going to jail”. Dupree was driving commercial trucks at the time that ESPN aired his film. Fairley stated that there was no fraud at the time and that Fairley never claimed to have been an agent. Dupree also claimed that Fairley approached him in 1983 while he was studying at USM. Later, Fairley took control of Dupree’s finances. According to the lawsuit, Fairley claimed that the Breakers purchased a disability insurance policy from Lloyds of London worth $4.53 million for Dupree in order to cover him in case he became disabled or injured while playing football. Dupree claimed Fairley lied about Fairley’s payment demands. Fairley then began withdrawing large sums from his account after Dupree won. Dupree sued Fairley to stop Fairley from interfering in his financial affairs. He also sought repayment and punitive damages of $3 million. Fairley and Dupree reached a settlement out of court in 1989. The Hattiesburg American reported that Dupree had received $500,000 from Fairley. The court sealed the settlement. Artie Fletcher, Picayune developer, sued Fairley in Forrest County Circuit Court alleging that the pastor, through his Pinebelt Community Services Group, owed Fletcher $160,000 for two housing rehabilitation projects at 127 E. Fifth Street, and 202 South St. Fairley was indicted on federal charges based on the Fletcher lawsuit. Federal prosecutors claim Pinebelt overbilled repair work and then pocketed any difference. Sandra Fairley stated that the couple accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior within hours of eachother on April 10, 1972. Their two grown sons have two children and they are now raising a granddaughter. Their sons pleaded guilty in 2007 to federal mortgage fraud charges. One was sentenced to seven months imprisonment, while the other was sentenced for 60 months probation and to pay $97,000 restitution. Sandra Fairley regards her husband as a “fighter”, throughout their 42-year marriage.