Dale Sanders, a 56-year-old pastor living in Kenner, Louisiana, faces potential prison time after a federal jury found him guilty of stealing over $340,000 from two different churches. The verdict was reached following a five-day trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long.
Prosecutors established that Sanders used deceptive practices to divert money from both institutions for his own benefit. Evidence showed he transferred funds from church bank accounts to his personal ones and misused church debit cards for unauthorized purchases. The misappropriated capital financed his personal living expenses, dining, and gambling.
Beyond the theft, Sanders was convicted of obstructing a federal probe for submitting fabricated documentation in response to a grand jury subpoena. U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle confirmed that the guilty verdict includes 25 counts, ranging from wire fraud to access device fraud.
The court has set October 13, 2026, for the sentencing hearing. Sanders faces up to 20 years in prison, substantial fines, and mandatory special assessments for his crimes. The case was brought to justice through the efforts of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn McHugh and Tracey Knight.
