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Chaldean Catholic leader faces multiple charges and allegations of misusing over $427,000 from church funds.
Bishop Emanuel Shaleta was arrested at San Diego International Airport on Thursday following an investigation led by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Fraud Unit. The investigation began last August when officials from the St. Peter Chaldean Church contacted the sheriff’s office with suspicions of embezzlement. They provided a statement and documentation related to the potential misappropriation of funds. After an initial inquiry the case was forwarded to the sheriff's fraud unit for further investigation.
According to reports from The Pillar that is a journalistic organization focusing on Catholic issues. Shaleta is accused of misappropriating funds received as rental finances for church owned property allegedly repaying the stolen sums with money intended for charitable purposes. Investigators revealed that more than 427,000 dollars missing with estimates suggesting the total could be as high as 1 million dollars.
A private investigator’s findings have raised further concerns about Shaleta's behavior. The investigator reported that Shaleta frequented a Tijuana brothel, the Hong Kong Billionaire’s Club and was often seen with a woman with whom he shared a bank account. This individual reportedly followed Shaleta from Michigan to his new post in San Diego.
The investigator noted that Shaleta had unrestricted access to her home and spent significant time with her children that raised questions about the nature of their relationship. A priest from St. Peter’s Church acknowledged that parishioners were aware of the allegations circulating on social media but refrained from commenting further. Although Shaleta submitted a resignation letter to the Vatican last month he was reportedly still active in church services until recently as indicated by a YouTube video of a Sunday mass.
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