A 56-year-old pastor and author from Louisiana, United States, has been convicted of stealing over $340,000 from two churches where he ministered.
Pastor Dale Sanders used the money to fund gambling and other personal expenses.
Sanders was found guilty on a 25-count federal indictment, which included charges of wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation, following a five-day jury trial, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Prosecutors said Sanders, a resident of Kenner, withdrew money from one church’s bank accounts and transferred the funds for his personal use to support lavish spending, including gambling, dining and living expenses.
According to his social media profiles, Sanders served as pastor of Fifth African Baptist Church in New Orleans and Second New Guide Missionary Baptist Church in Metairie.
Authorities also said he used a church debit card to make unauthorised personal purchases and obtained cash, goods, and services worth more than $340,000.
The fraudulent activities were said to have taken place between April 2020 and April 2024.
Prosecutors further alleged that Sanders submitted a falsified record in response to a federal grand jury subpoena during the investigation.
After he was indicted in April, Sanders shared a video on his social media pages asking members of his congregation to pray for both him and what he described as his “enemy.”
He is also the author of the book Strut Your Stutter, in which he encourages readers to “be peacock proud of whoever you are and whatever you’re working with.”
Sanders faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after completing his prison term, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 for each count.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13.
