Pastor Found Guilty by Jury of Wire Fraud, Access Device Fraud, and Obstruction of a Federal Investigation

NEW ORLEANS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced the conviction of DALE SANDERS, age 56, of Kenner, Louisiana after a five-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long. On Friday, July 17, 2026, a jury convicted the defendant on 25 counts of the superseding indictment pending against him for wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation related to a years-long investigation. 

According to the evidence presented at trial, SANDERS defrauded Church A and Church B in order to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises. SANDERS would withdraw funds and transfer money held in Church A’s bank accounts to accounts controlled by SANDERS. The money was used to fund his personal expenditures, to include gambling, dining, and living expenses. SANDERS utilized Church A’s debit card for unauthorized personal transactions and received cash, goods and services totaling over $340,000 that he was not entitled to. SANDERS was also found guilty of obstruction of a federal investigation for providing a falsified record in response to a grand jury subpoena.

Judge Long scheduled SANDERS’ sentencing for October 13, 2026. SANDERS faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000.00 fine or the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count.