How US-based pastor stole $340,000 from two church buildings to fund playing life-style

A 56-year-old US-based Pastor, Dale Sanders has been convicted on a number of federal fraud expenses after a jury discovered he stole greater than $340,000 from two church buildings and used the cash to fund his private life-style, together with playing, eating and residing bills.

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, David I. Courcelle, introduced that Sanders, of Kenner, Louisiana, was convicted after a five-day jury trial earlier than U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long.

A federal jury on Friday, July 17, 2026, discovered Sanders responsible on 25 counts contained in a superseding indictment, together with wire fraud, entry gadget fraud and obstruction of a federal investigation.

According to proof introduced throughout the trial, Sanders defrauded two church buildings, recognized in court docket paperwork as Church A and Church B, by acquiring cash and property via false and fraudulent representations.

Prosecutors stated Sanders withdrew funds from Church A’s financial institution accounts and transferred the cash into accounts below his management. He additionally used the church’s debit card to make unauthorised private purchases.

The stolen funds have been spent on private bills, together with playing, eating and on a regular basis residing prices. Authorities stated Sanders obtained money, items and companies value greater than $340,000 that he was not entitled to.

The jury additionally convicted Sanders of obstructing a federal investigation after discovering that he submitted a falsified file in response to a grand jury subpoena throughout the investigation.

Judge Long has scheduled Sanders’ sentencing for October 13, 2026.

He faces a most sentence of 20 years in federal jail, a high quality of as much as $250,000 or twice the gross achieve or loss ensuing from the offences, as much as three years of supervised launch following imprisonment, and a compulsory particular evaluation of $100 for every depend of conviction.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle counseled the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Field Office for its work on the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn McHugh and Tracey Knight of the Financial Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

Vanguard News