A Louisiana pastor known for his social media presence and motivational messaging has been convicted of defrauding his own congregations out of more than $340,000, using church funds to bankroll gambling, dining, and other personal expenses.
Dale Sanders, 56, of Kenner, was found guilty Friday, July 17, 2026, of a 25-count superseding indictment charging him with wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation following a five-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long. The conviction was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
According to evidence presented at trial, Sanders defrauded two congregations he led, Second New Guide Missionary Baptist Church in Metairie (identified as Church A) and Fifth African Baptist Church in New Orleans (Church B), by withdrawing funds and transferring money from church bank accounts into accounts he controlled.
He also used a church debit card for unauthorized personal transactions, pocketing cash, goods and services totaling over $340,000 that he had no right to.
The money bankrolled his casino gambling, hotel stays, meals and living expenses. The scheme stretched from around 2020 to 2024.
Prosecutors detailed specific transactions in the superseding indictment, including a $5,000 check from the New Orleans church, a $1,172 charge at a Hard Rock Hotel in Florida, $1,300 in charges at a Mississippi casino, and even a $226 veterinary bill in Kenner, among many others, according to NOLA.com.
Sanders was also convicted of obstructing the federal investigation by providing a falsified record in response to a grand jury subpoena.
The jury convicted him on 15 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of access device fraud and one count of impeding a federal investigation. He was acquitted on one wire fraud count.
Sentencing is set for October 13, 2026. Sanders faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine (or the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss), up to three years of supervised release, and mandatory special assessment fees, according to the DOJ.The
The New York Post reported:
After Sanders was indicted in April, he posted a video to his social media accounts asking his congregants to “pray” for his “enemy.”
He thanked churchgoers for “calling, texting, seeing me in person, and telling me that you’re praying for me.”
“And believe this,” Sanders said. “I feel your prayers. God is already working and moving by his Spirit.”
“This is what you can do for me … I know you’re praying for me. But I need you to pray a Matthew 5:44 prayer. I need you to pray for my enemy.”
“The Bible says, ‘Pray for them that despitefully use you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my namesake,” he continued. “If you pray for my enemy, God will not only bless me, but he will deal with them.”
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