A religious leader in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, USA, has been convicted in a federal court. He was found guilty of defrauding two local churches out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The stolen funds were redirected to finance personal luxuries, hotel stays, and casino gambling.
The case came to light following a detailed investigation covered by 4WWL, a CBS-affiliated television station based in New Orleans. The federal probe exposed how church funds were systematically drained over an extended period.
The Court Verdict and Charges
Following a five-day trial, a federal jury convicted the 56-year-old pastor on Friday. He faced a total of 25 criminal counts. The charges included wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation.
Investigators revealed that the pastor used deceptive promises to gain administrative access to church finances. He then transferred funds and illegally charged more than $340,000—approximately Ksh 44 million—to a church debit card.
Deceiving Church Members
The pastor maintained control by misleading congregation leaders. Prosecutors stated that he manipulated financial accounts while pretending to serve the community's best interests.
"Sanders made false promises and agreements to gain access to the churches' finances."
When federal authorities launched an inquiry, the situation escalated further. Sanders attempted to cover his tracks. He was specifically found guilty of providing a falsified record in response to a federal grand jury subpoena, triggering an obstruction charge.
Legal Defense and Upcoming Sentencing
Defence attorneys argued that their client acted with permission. They claimed the pastor reached an informal agreement with church board leaders allowing him to use the debit card in exchange for waiving his regular salary.
