- A Kenner pastor is facing up to 20 years in prison after a jury convicted him of siphoning more than $340,000 from two Louisiana churches to bankroll his gambling and personal spending. Get our free mobile appWhat Prosecutors Say Sanders Did: Four Years of Church Fund TheftProsecutors say Sanders funneled church funds into accounts he personally controlled over a four-year period from April 2020 to April 2024, and also used a church debit card to cover personal purchases. Sanders Led Two Congregations While Allegedly Stealing from BothAt the time, Sanders led two congregations: Fifth African Baptist Church in New Orleans and Second New Guide Missionary Baptist Church in Metairie. Investigators also say Sanders tried to derail the investigators' probe by submitting a forged document in response to a grand jury subpoena. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine as high as $250,000.