Louisiana pastor admits stealing $900,000 from church and congregants

essentialsaltes

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Charles Southall III, who for more than three decades led First Emanuel Baptist church in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of money-laundering.

According to court documents Southall endorsed, the minister embezzled donations from congregants that were meant to fund church charitable projects and building improvements.

He could receive up to 10 years in prison at a sentencing hearing tentatively set for 17 January, though defendants who plead guilty without going to trial rarely receive the harshest punishment available.
 

lismore

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If the amount in question is so high, 900K, it must mean that the necessary checks and balances for accountability were not in place in the church. No one person should have unsupervised access to church funds. God Bless :)
 
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hislegacy

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How is this possible?

I think it happens because of two things.

1. Lack of integrity
2. Lack of checks and balances.

Pastors are the head of the church, but I don't believe they should even be on the bank accounts
 
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RestoreTheJoy

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If the amount in question is so high, 900K, it must mean that the necessary checks and balances for accountability were not in place in the church. No one person should have unsupervised access to church funds. God Bless :)
Right. Why was no one watching?
 
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