Gary Sheffield’s mother-in-law, Debbie Richards, a preacher’s wife, came to his defense over the incident involving her daughter’s participation in an X-rated video. “Her husband [Sheffield] is the most awesome man in the world,” she said. I guess Richards didn’t know about the times Sheffield used to hang out at John Bowen’s studio in North Hollywood watching porn tapes being made.

New York- Pouring out her heart, the mom of Gary Sheffield’s wife said yesterday that her daughter’s faith in God and love for the Yankee star will help her survive a heartless blackmail scheme.

Debbie Richards, a born-again preacher’s wife, spoke to the Daily News after it was revealed that an ex-con tried to extort $20,000 by claiming to have a decade-old sex tape of her daughter, DeLeon, and R&B star R. Kelly.

“That was then – and she’s saved now,” Richards said of her daughter’s teenage romance with Kelly, years before she married Sheffield. “God has forgiven that, and her husband is the most awesome man in the whole wide world.”

Her voice full of pride, Richards said she was touched by the Yankee slugger’s devotion to his wife, and his public vow to support her as they bring the accused shakedown artist to justice.

“I couldn’t have a better son-in-law,” Richards said. “He’s so honest and so real, and if he didn’t believe in her he would not be doing this.

“Whatever we’ve done in the past, God forgives us,” she added. “It took Gary to tell her, ‘We can face this. I’m with you and we’re going after this man.'”

“She’s fine,” Richards said of her daughter. “Her husband is standing by her. It doesn’t matter what the public thinks.”

DeLeon’s mother confirmed to the Daily News that when her daughter was a teenager, she dated Kelly, then an up-and-coming R&B star untainted by scandal.

“It seemed like it was pretty solid,” Richards said of their relationship. “You trust people and think that they’re nice people. He seemed like he was such a nice person.”

Richards said she could imagine her young daughter being seduced by Kelly, who is currently facing trial for videotaping sex sessions with an underage girl.

“I can see someone making a mistake, doing that as a teenager,” she said. “All teenagers get in trouble.”

But Richards, a born-again Christian who hands out “Jesus Loves You” cards, balked at Derrick Mosley’s claim that DeLeon took part in a raunchy threesome with another woman.

“I know that’s not true. That’s just terrible. My daughter was raised to love the Lord,” Richards said. “My daughter would never do nothing like that.”

Sheffield, 36, who has a $39million contract with the Bronx Bombers, met DeLeon, 28, a well-known gospel singer, during the NBA All-Star game in New York in 1998.

The athlete, who already had three children from previous relationships, fell hard for the shy brunette, who would not even let him kiss her in the first seven months of dating.

The two were married in February 2000 at a star-studded ceremony, and they have a 2-year-old son, Jaden.

Their fairy tale was interrupted this week when Mosley, a 38-year-old self-styled Chicago activist, was arrested by the FBI on an extortion rap.

Although court papers did not mention Sheffield’s name, he issued a statement Tuesday confirming he and DeLeon were the targets of Mosley’s plot.

He also said he knew his wife had a romance with a well-known professional musician about 10 years ago, and he would not stand for anyone smearing her name.

“We will not be blackmailed,” he vowed. “I will not have my family dragged through the mud and filth.”

Mosley, who is set to appear in federal court in Chicago today for a bail hearing, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But Richards said she has no doubt her daughter’s tormentor is an agent of wickedness.

“The Devil is busy and he’ll do anything,” she told The News.