Embezzlement and Money Laundering - East County 

March 6, 2026 – San Diego County Sheriff's Office officials report that on August 19, 2025, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office was contacted by a representative from St. Peter Chaldean Church, which is located at 1627 Jamacha Way in Unincorporated El Cajon.

The church representative provided a statement and documents showing potential embezzlement from the church. Upon completion of the initial investigation, the case was forwarded to and investigated by the Sheriff's Fraud Unit.

On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta was contacted and detained at the San Diego International Airport attempting to leave the country. He was arrested for eight counts of 508 PC – Embezzlement, eight counts of 186.10(a) PC – Money Laundering, and one count of 186.11(a)(1) PC – Aggravated White Collar Crime Enhancement.

Shaleta was transported and booked at the San Diego Central Jail for the aforementioned charges. He is currently being held on $125,000 bail and a hold under Penal Code section 1275.1 was approved by the court.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff's Fraud Unit at (858) 285-6111.  You can remain anonymous by calling San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

To report suspicious or criminal activity, call the San Diego County Sheriff's Office at (858) 868-3200.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Office