Following a five-day trial presided over by US District Judge Brandon S. Long, a jury found Sanders guilty on 25 counts, including wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced the conviction, revealing that Sanders defrauded Church A and Church B through deceptive practices. He withdrew funds and transferred money from Church A’s bank accounts to his own, using the misappropriated funds for gambling, dining, and living costs. Additionally, Sanders used the church’s debit card for unauthorized transactions, accruing over $340,000 in cash, goods, and services that he was not entitled to exploit.

The jury also convicted Sanders of obstructing a federal investigation by submitting false records in response to a grand jury subpoena, highlighting the seriousness of his fraudulent activities. Sentencing is scheduled for October 13, 2026, where he faces a potential maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or a penalty equal to twice the gross gain or loss. He may also be subject to three years of supervised release following imprisonment, along with a mandatory $100 special assessment fee for each count.

US Attorney David I. Courcelle commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Field Office for their thorough investigation, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn McHugh and Tracey Knight from the Financial Crimes Unit.