Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, 69, was detained at San Diego International Airport on Thursday after church members accused him of pocketing up to a million dollars from the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, Shaleta was charged with eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering and one enhancement of 'aggravated white collar crime
.' The Pillar previously reported that the bishop was expected to travel to Rome this week.
A church member originally contacted police with accusations against Shaleta in August 2025.
The Vatican ordered an investigation alongside the Sheriff's department after allegations of financial fraud and personal misconduct came to light.
Investigators alleged that Shaleta took at least $427,345 from parish accounts, issuing so-called reimbursement checks that he signed himself.
Shaleta was also allegedly seen frequenting a Gentleman's Club in Tijuana that has been described as a brothel where women and girls have allegedly been trafficked and forced to work.
Shaleta turned in his resignation to the Vatican in January, but has vehemently denied any allegations of fraud.
'I have never in my priestly life or episcopal life abused any of the Church money,' he said at a church service held on February 22, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.
'On the contrary, I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the Church properly.'
According to the investigation, Shaleta's parish leased its social hall to an outside management firm for roughly $34,000 per month.
Rent is normally paid by check by an outside company.
However, records from November 2024 reportedly showed the payment coming from a separate parish bank account used to assist the poor.
When Shaleta was asked about this, he allegedly said he had told the company to give him the full amount so he could distribute it directly to families in need.
Shaleta has not addressed reports that he was seen frequently parking his car in a lot 'specifically reserved for people going to Hong Kong Gentlemen's Club.'
From there, he allegedly boarded a shuttle 'exclusive to visitors' of the brothel, which advertises 'hundreds of exotic women.'
According to a private investigator, Shaleta reportedly made more than a dozen trips to the club in just one month.
Shaleta was also accused of having a relationship with his parish secretary while he served as a pastor in Michigan.
The woman reportedly relocated to San Diego after Shaleta was appointed as Bishop in 2017.
The investigation alleged that the bishop shared a bank account with the unidentified woman and had unrestricted access to her home and children.
The joint bank account reportedly held more than $40,000 in 2025 and received regular deposits from Shaleta.
Defense attorney Jan Ronis told Fox5 San Diego that the nature of Shaleta's arrest could be construed as an admission of guilt.
'You can infer from flight to avoid prosecution is a manifestation of consciousness of guilt, which is not the best thing in the world,' he told the outlet.
'On the other hand, there could be some just innocent associated excuse with that activity, which could mean it’s meaningless.'
Shaleta was transported to San Diego Central Jail and is being held on a $125,000 bail as he awaits arraignment.
Ronis said the bail could change based on the circumstances of Shaleta's arrest.