• A New Orleans minister pleaded guilty before a U.S. district court judge to money laundering Tuesday, admitting that he took over $889,000 from his church and its ministries for personal use.
• Dr. Charles J. Southall, the executive pastor of First Emmanuel Baptist Church, was charged in September with laundering proceeds through a wire fraud scheme.
• In 2019, Southall took a $10,000 levy from one of the congregants and deposited the money into his accounts.
• Between 2016 and 2020, he took multiple donations totaling around $106,000 from another member intended for charity and building improvements and moved the funds to accounts for his expenses.

Tagged: Crime Blotter