Louisiana Pastor Accused of Embezzling Over $300K From Church
Dale Sanders Sr. denies the charges.
A Louisiana pastor is accused of embezzling more than $300,000 from a church he leads, according to a federal Department of Justice press release.
Dale Sanders Sr. / Video Screenshot
The 56-year-old Dale Sanders Sr., who pastors two churches — the Fifth African Baptist Church of New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Second New Guide Missionary Baptist Church of Metairie, Louisiana — denies the charges.
If found guilty, Sanders could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to the federal 11-count indictment, Sanders used a debit card for a church in New Orleans between April 2020 and April 2024 in order to receive cash and make purchases.
Sanders is also accused of falsifying a record — contribution statement for 2023 — intending to “impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation and proper administration of a federal criminal investigation.”
The indictment calls for Sanders to forfeit any property used to commit the alleged offenses, a total of $343,293.
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Sanders addressed the allegations in a Facebook video.
He said he became pastor of Second New Guide Missionary Baptist Church 13 years ago, but the church was fractured when he arrived and had been having some “money management” problems.
At some point, due to the money problems at the church, Sanders said he was told his salary would be “cut by $2,000 a month” and that he received no salary for four years from that church.
Sanders said he suffered financially in his personal life, but he continued to shield a “gentleman” at the church.
This same “gentleman,” who Sanders didn’t name, is accusing Sanders of “malfeasance.”
“Let me submit to you today that I am a giver,” Sanders said. “I don’t steal, and I have not stolen from a church I’ve pastored.”
Sanders claimed he “covered” the infractions committed by someone else. “This has been a costly affair. All of the costs — only God knows.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on financial fraud in the church? We report on them because one in three churches will be victimized, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. We also report on them because these crimes have real victims and cost taxpayers and other stakeholders billions of dollars every year. Even small crimes in small churches have huge consequences. We also report on them to remind our readers that they do not have to be victims. There are steps you can take to prevent financial waste, fraud, and abuse in your church or ministry. To find out more, click here.
