A Catholic bishop from California has been arrested and accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from his church, according to investigators.
Emanuel Shaleta, a bishop based in the San Diego area, was taken into custody at San Diego International Airport while attempting to leave the country. Authorities charged him with multiple counts of embezzlement, money laundering, and financial crimes.
The investigation began after church officials noticed irregularities in financial records and missing funds. Reports later revealed that the bishop allegedly made frequent trips across the border to Tijuana, Mexico, where he was seen visiting the Hong Kong Gentlemen’s Club, a location widely described in reports as a brothel.
Investigators believe hundreds of thousands of dollars may be unaccounted for, though the bishop has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case is still ongoing, and if convicted, he could face significant prison time.
