Is it penchant for a flamboyant lifestyle and general greed that led a United States (US)-based pastor to more than $340,000 from two churches?
A jury which looked into the case says 56-year-old, Dale Sanders used the more than $340,000 money to fund his personal lifestyle, including gambling, dining and living expenses.
It has thus convicted him on multiple federal fraud charges after finding him guilty.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, David I. Courcelle, announced that Sanders, of Kenner, Louisiana, was convicted after a five-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long.
A federal jury on Friday, July 17, 2026, found Sanders guilty on 25 counts contained in a superseding indictment, including wire fraud, access device fraud and obstruction of a federal investigation.
Evidence presented during the trial, showed Sanders defrauded two churches, identified in court documents as Church A and Church B, by obtaining money and property through false and fraudulent representations.
Prosecutors said Sanders withdrew funds from Church A’s bank accounts and transferred the money into accounts under his control. He also used the church’s debit card to make unauthorised personal purchases.
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The stolen funds were spent on personal expenses, including gambling, dining and everyday living costs. Authorities said Sanders received cash, goods and services worth more than $340,000 that he was not entitled to.
The jury also convicted Sanders of obstructing a federal investigation after finding that he submitted a falsified record in response to a grand jury subpoena during the investigation.
Judge Long has scheduled Sanders’ sentencing for October 13, 2026.
He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offences, up to three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment of $100 for each count of conviction.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Field Office for its work on the case.
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