A Louisiana pastor with a history of financial misdeeds has allegedly swindled his congregation to sustain his gambling addiction while asking followers to “pray for his adversaries” as the authorities closed in on him.
Prosecutors assert that Dale Sanders, aged 56, misappropriated over $340,000 from the Second New Guide Missionary Baptist Church in Metairie and the Fifth African Baptist Church in New Orleans, where he held pastoral duties.
On July 17, following a five-day jury trial in New Orleans, he was convicted on 25 federal charges, including wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstructing a federal investigation.
Personal Financial Mishandling
Court documents reveal that Sanders unlawfully acquired a Capital One debit card belonging to Second New Guide without board approval, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars personally from April 2020 to April 2024, which included numerous cash withdrawals from various casinos not identified in court records.
When the church accounts ran low, Sanders reportedly transferred funds from Fifth African Baptist to Second New Guide to cover the deficits, as described by prosecutors.
Additionally, Sanders attempted to conceal his actions when the FBI initiated an inquiry. Prosecutors claimed he submitted doctored records in response to a federal grand jury subpoena, trying to falsely demonstrate that he had returned money to the church in 2023.
Social Media Minister
Post-indictment, Sanders turned to social platforms to express gratitude to his supporters and urged them to pray for his pursuers.
The sharply dressed pastor often shared videos of his sermons and church activities on Facebook, and authored a self-help book titled Strut Your Stutter, motivating readers to embrace their individuality.
“I ask you to pray a Matthew 5:44 prayer for my adversaries,” he stated in a video.
“The Bible teaches us to pray for those who oppose us and speak falsehoods against us,” he added. “If you pray for my adversary, God will not only bless me but will also address them.”
A federal jury, however, was not as sympathetic to his plight.
US District Judge Brandon S. Long has set the sentencing date for October 13, where Sanders faces a possible maximum of 20 years in prison, fines up to $250,000 or twice the amount of financial gain or loss, as well as three years of supervised release.