DALE SANDERS, age 56, of Kenner, Louisiana, was convicted on July 17 by a jury of wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long in New Orleans. The conviction was announced on July 20 by U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Sanders defrauded two churches, referred to as Church A and Church B, by obtaining money and property through materially false pretenses and representations. Sanders withdrew funds from Church A’s bank accounts and transferred them to accounts he controlled for personal use, including gambling, dining, and living expenses. He also used Church A’s debit card for unauthorized personal transactions.
The total value of cash, goods, and services received by Sanders without authorization exceeded $340,000. Additionally, Sanders was found guilty of obstructing a federal investigation after providing a falsified record in response to a grand jury subpoena.
Judge Long scheduled sentencing for October 13. Sanders faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment per count as well as fines up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain or loss per count. He may also be subject to three years’ supervised release after imprisonment and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation – New Orleans Field Office for its work on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn McHugh and Tracey Knight prosecuted the case.