Executive Pastor Pleads Guilty to Stealing $130,000 from Church to Pay Gambling Debt

Pastor Pleads Guilty To Stealing $130K From Church To Pay Gambling Debts

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An executive pastor in New Hampshire pleaded guilty in federal court to using Journey Baptist Church’s debit and credit cards without authorization to pay off his gambling debts, according to U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.

Gregory Neal, 45, of Rochester, admitted to a "one-count information alleging wire fraud" during his appearance in court, Young said in a statement last week, adding that U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott has scheduled the sentencing for July 19.

Neal’s role as an executive pastor involved overseeing the daily operations of the church, which included control over its finances.

Between January 2017 and March 2020, Neal made unauthorized withdrawals from the church’s accounts to cover his own gambling debts and used the church’s credit cards for his personal benefit, the attorney said.

The unauthorized transactions totaled roughly $130,000.

The charging statute stipulates a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine not exceeding $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and restitution.

Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes governing the decision of a sentence in a criminal case, the attorney explained.

The U.S. Secret Service led the investigation into Neal’s fraudulent activities, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case, according to the statement.

Last May, Chanell Easton of Oklahoma City, a 36-year-old wife of a former police chief, was charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for stealing more than $360,000 from her church in California while she was an administrator between 2013 and 2018.

During her employment from June 2013 to February 2018, Easton also stole money from the church’s community food pantry and youth ministry.

Last August, four leaders of a California church pled guilty to participating in a labor trafficking scheme that forced homeless people to give up their welfare benefits and panhandle.

Victor Gonzalez, pastor of Imperial Valley Ministries and his wife, Susan Christine Gonzalez, and two other church leaders, Jose Diaz and his wife, Mercedes Gonzales, pleaded guilty in federal court to recruiting homeless people in San Diego and other cities, then forcing them to participate in raising money on behalf of the El Centro-based church, The Times of San Diego reported at the time.

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N.H. Pastor Pleads Guilty To Stealing $130,000 In Church Money

CONCORD, N.H. – An executive pastor pleaded guilty to stealing $130,000 from a Barrington Church in federal court Wednesday.

Gregory Neal of Rochester oversaw the operations of Journey Baptist Church, which included managing church finances. Between January 2017 and March 2020, he used church credit and debit cards to pay off his own gambling debt and made unauthorized purchases “for his own personal benefit,” according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.

Court documents detail his spending of nearly $1,000 through Ticketmaster as well as purchases at Home Depot, Walmart, and other retail stores.

Neal joined Journey Church in 2011 and started working there in 2014 as a part-time youth minister before getting a full-time job in church administration in 2016, according to the church’s Pastor Rob Willis.

Willis said he was the one who discovered Neal had been stealing from the church in 2020, after a credit card company called him about a bill that was past due for “an excessive amount.” He then reported it to the police. Willis said their families were close and had been on vacation together one week before he learned Neal had been stealing from the church.

“While we’re glad to see that justice is being done, it’s also something that represents a large pain point and speaks to Greg’s own personal issues and demons,” Willis said. “We hope he gets the help he needs to never do something like this again.”

Those in the church community were unaware that Neal, who is married with three children, had a gambling problem, according to Willis. “I really want to see Greg pay for his crime,” he said, but added that he believes Neal should be forgiven. “This was bad, but it’s forgivable.”

Journey Church describes itself as a contemporary Christian Church that was founded in 2003, according to its website. Willis said about 350 people are a part of the church community.

Neal was represented by Jeffrey Levin. According to the plea deal, he waives his right to a trial by jury. In exchange for his guilty plea, the U.S. Will recommend he be sentenced “at the bottom of the applicable advisory sentencing guidelines range as determined by the Court” and that he won’t have to pay back any more than he stole.

The U.S. Also agrees not to oppose a sentence reduction if Neal takes personal responsibility for the offense.

The maximum prison term is 20 years. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 19, 2023 and will be decided by a federal district court judge based on sentencing guidelines.

US Attorney: Pastor Used Church Funds To Pay Off Gambling Debts

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