The Chaldean Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, responsible for the Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego—which serves Chaldean faithful in the western half of the United States—was arrested this Thursday at San Diego airport accused of several financial crimes.
According to The Pillar, the prelate was arrested while attempting to leave the country and was subsequently transferred to the county central jail. The detention comes just a few weeks after allegations of fund misappropriation and improper personal conduct came to light, which had already prompted an investigation ordered by the Vatican.
The investigation that Rome had already opened
As previously reported by The Pillar, the case began to be investigated following internal complaints about possible economic irregularities in the Chaldean Diocese of San Diego. The civil investigation in the United States was developing in parallel to a canonical inquiry promoted by the Holy See.
The accusations pointed to the possible disappearance of hundreds of thousands of dollars from cathedral funds and rental income from diocesan properties, as well as attempts to cover the missing amounts through transfers from charitable accounts intended to help the poor.
Arrested while trying to leave the country
According to San Diego County authorities, Shaleta faces eight counts of embezzlement and eight counts of money laundering, plus an aggravation for financial crimes. The bishop remains detained with bail set at $125,000.
If the charges are confirmed, it could be the first active diocesan bishop in the United States arrested for serious financial crimes.
The bishop had denied the accusations
Before his arrest, Shaleta had publicly rejected the complaints. In an address given on February 22 at his cathedral, he assured that he had never abused Church money and claimed that the accusations were part of a campaign against him.
The prelate stated at that time that part of the questioned money came from donations intended to directly help needy people and that he himself had taken charge of distributing those funds.
Accusations of improper personal conduct also weigh
The dossier sent to the Vatican also included accusations related to the bishop’s personal conduct. Private investigations cited by several media outlets indicated that Shaleta had repeatedly crossed the border into Tijuana to visit an establishment identified as a brothel.
In addition, the reports mentioned the existence of a joint bank account maintained for years with a woman previously linked to his pastoral activity, an aspect that was also part of the investigation sent to Rome.
He had already submitted his resignation
In the midst of the investigation, the bishop had submitted his resignation from the position at the end of January, although to date the Holy See has not announced a definitive decision on his canonical situation.
The case now continues on two parallel fronts: the judicial one in the United States and the ecclesiastical process opened by the Vatican.