Pastor Delman Coates Files Lawsuit Alleging Multi-Million Dollar Fraud

The Rev. Delman Coates, senior pastor of Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, Maryland, has filed a lawsuit against the estate of late Rhode Island attorney Ronald W. Dunbar Jr. and several other defendants. The legal action alleges that Coates was defrauded of millions of dollars through a real estate lending scheme orchestrated by Dunbar between December 2024 and April 2025.

According to the court filing, Coates advanced at least $2.85 million in loans based on the attorney's proposals and personal guarantees. While early bridge loans were reportedly repaid, the pastor claims that subsequent investments in construction projects, such as the Orchard Condominium in West Warwick, resulted in significant losses. The lawsuit states that Dunbar acknowledged owing over $4.4 million in November 2025 but paid only $400,000 before his death in July 2026.

Mt. Ennon Baptist Church has issued a statement clarifying that the litigation is a personal matter for Dr. Coates and that the congregation is not involved in the case. The lawsuit names multiple individuals and entities, including Dunbar Law PC and several real estate developers, as defendants in the 18-count complaint.