A US pastor, Dale Sanders, has been found guilty of stealing over $340,000 from two Louisiana churches to fund gambling, personal expenses, and a lavish lifestyle.The conviction includes 25 charges like wire fraud and obstruction of justice.Prosecutors revealed that Sanders siphoned church funds between 2020 and 2024, using a church debit card for unauthorized transactions.The money was spent on gambling, dining, and luxury living.Sanders faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release.The case has sparked debates about financial accountability in religious organizations.The two churches involved were Fifth African Baptist Church in New Orleans and Second New Guide Missionary Baptist Church in Metairie.Sanders also faced obstruction charges for providing false records during the investigation.His sentencing is scheduled for October, and the case highlights the need for transparency in church financial management.