A Chaldean Catholic bishop in the United States has been arrested and detained over multiple financial crime allegations, including embezzlement and money laundering.
Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, the 69-year-old head of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle in San Diego, California, was arrested on March 5 at the San Diego International Airport while allegedly attempting to leave the country.
According to a statement released by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, Shaleta faces eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated white-collar crime enhancement under California law.
Authorities explained that the aggravated white-collar crime charge—often referred to as the state’s “freeze and seize” law—applies when multiple felony fraud or embezzlement offences result in alleged losses exceeding $100,000.
The bishop is currently being held at San Diego’s central jail with bail set at $125,000, although court approval is required before any payment or release can be granted. His arraignment is scheduled for March 9 at the Superior Court in El Cajon, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators revealed that the case began on August 19, 2025, when a representative of St. Peter Chaldean Church in El Cajon contacted the sheriff’s office and submitted documents suggesting possible embezzlement of church funds. The case was subsequently handled by the agency’s fraud unit following preliminary investigations.
In response to the allegations, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate acknowledged that complaints had been filed by some members of the diocese concerning the alleged mishandling of diocesan funds and claims of inappropriate relationships.
The patriarchate emphasized that the allegations require careful and objective review and should not be resolved outside the appropriate legal and ecclesiastical processes. It also noted that the Apostolic See (the Vatican), in cooperation with the patriarchate, had already conducted investigations to determine the facts and ensure a fair outcome.
Reports earlier indicated that Bishop Shaleta had submitted his resignation to the Vatican earlier this year, following an investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
Shaleta was appointed to lead the San Diego Chaldean diocese in 2017 after previously serving in the Chaldean Catholic Diocese in Toronto, Canada.
The Chaldean Catholic Church is one of the 23 Eastern Catholic churches that are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, which is headed by the Bishop of Rome.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as legal proceedings against the bishop continue.
