US Pastor Convicted Of Stealing $340,000 From Churches To Fund Gambling

A United States pastor, Dale Sanders, has been convicted of stealing more than $340,000 from two churches in Louisiana and using the money to finance gambling and other personal expenses.

The 56-year-old was found guilty by a jury on 25 counts, including wire fraud, access device fraud and obstruction of a federal investigation, following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long.

The conviction was announced in a statement issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and published on the U.S. Department of Justice website.

According to prosecutors, Sanders orchestrated a scheme to defraud the two churches by obtaining money and property through false and fraudulent representations.

The statement said Sanders transferred funds from Church A’s bank accounts into accounts under his control and spent the money on personal expenses, including gambling, dining and living costs.

Investigators also found that he used Church A’s debit card to carry out unauthorized personal transactions, receiving more than $340,000 in cash, goods and services to which he was not entitled.

In addition to the fraud-related offences, the jury convicted Sanders of obstructing a federal investigation after he submitted a falsified record in response to a grand jury subpoena.

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

If sentenced to the maximum penalty, Sanders could face up to 20 years in 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 after serving his prison term, and a mandatory $100 special assessment for each count.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Field Office for investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn McHugh and Tracey Knight of the Financial Crimes Unit prosecuted the matter.