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El Cajon Chaldean bishop arrested at airport on embezzlement, money laundering charges
SAN DIEGO, CA — Bishop Emanuel Shaleta was arrested at the San Diego International Airport and jailed
The bishop of a Chaldean Catholic church in El Cajon was arrested while trying to leave the country Thursday and jailed on suspicion of embezzlement, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said.
The arrest of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of the Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle comes more than two weeks after news surfaced alleging money was missing from the church and that the Vatican was investigating. The bishop denied the allegations.
Deputies detained Shaleta, 69, at San Diego International Airport as he was “attempting to leave the country,” the department said in a news release Thursday.
Shaleta was arrested on suspicion of eight counts each of embezzlement and money laundering, and also an enhancement alleging aggravated white collar crime. He was jailed in lieu of $125,000.
The bishop was still in the process of being booked into jail Thursday evening, and no further information was immediately available.
Earlier this week, The Pillar, an investigative news outlet covering the Catholic Church, reported that Shaleta was expected to travel to Rome this week as the Vatican weighed his future.
On Feb. 19, the outlet was the first to report that the Vatican had ordered an investigation into Shaleta and alleged more than $427,000 in cash had been “appropriated.”
The Sheriff’s Office acknowledged an investigation when the Union-Tribune asked about the news report late last month but declined to provide additional information.
On Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office said that a representative of the local church had contacted detectives Aug. 19 and provided a statement and documents “showing potential embezzlement from the church.” The case was subsequently investigated by the sheriff’s Fraud Unit.
The department did not say how much money it suspects was taken, nor when the alleged embezzlements occurred.
During a Mass late last month, Sheleta adamantly denied wrongdoing.
“I have never in my priestly life or episcopal life abused any penny of the church money,” Shaleta said, according to a recording of the service, which was streamed on YouTube. “On the contrary, I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the church properly.”
Shaleta told the congregation that a donor had given him money to distribute to poor people, and that he had done so. He said a member of the church finance committee reported missing money to the Vatican — money the bishop indicated were the funds donated to help poor people.
The bishop said he lives in a small room, works in a small office and has a small car. “I think there is a mean and vicious media campaign funded by very rich people against the Chaldean Church and its clergy,” he said, and he told parishioners to ask for a copy of the financial report.
The Pillar news story also cited a report submitted to the Dicastery for Eastern Catholic Churches by a San Diego-based private investigator and former FBI agent who reported seeing the bishop making late-night border crossings into Mexico, parking in a lot reserved for customers of a brothel, then boarding a shuttle exclusive to customers of the brothel. Shaleta did not address those allegations in his Feb. 22 public address.
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Former Wake County teacher and youth pastor charged with child sex crimes
According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Mikah Brondyke was arrested and charged with sex crimes against children. His wife, an assistant principal, is also facing drug charges.
A former Wake County Public Schools teacher and youth pastor is facing charges after he was accused of sex crimes against children, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Court documents showed that Mikah Brondyke sent explicit videos to a Holly Springs police officer acting undercover as a 14-year-old girl.
Brondyke, 36, was arrested on Tuesday and faces several charges, including:
- Soliciting a child by computer
- Indecent liberties with a child
- Disseminating obscenity
- First-degree sexual exploitation of a minor
- Felony possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance
- Maintain a dwelling for a controlled substance
Brondyke’s wife, Chloe Bronydke, an assistant principal at Rolesville High School, was also charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, the NCSBI said.
In a letter sent to families, Rolesville High School Principal Phelan Perry said the incidents related to the charges did not happen at the school and did not involve any Rolesville High School students.
Mikah Brondyke, who was a career and technical education teacher and assistant soccer coach at Rolesville High School until May 1, 2024, is being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $620,000 secured bond. He’s due in court in April.
North Carolina Wesleyan University confirmed Brondyke worked at the school from June 2017 to August 2020 in a ministry and outreach role.
“The charges described involve alleged conduct that occurred well after his employment at the University and in contexts unrelated to North Carolina Wesleyan University,” a school spokesperson said in a statement to WRAL.
Chloe Bronydke turned herself in and posted a $20,000 bond, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. She has been suspended with pay while the district investigates, Rolesville High School’s principal said.
The Holly Springs Police Department is among several agencies that are part of a broader task force that investigates cybercrimes against children.
“Tips can come from the State Bureau of Investigation or they may even come from the federal bureau of investigation,” Chief Paul Liquorie said. “Then trying to also see if they will be solicited by this person they are receiving a tip of.”
He had a warning for parents to remain vigilant in protecting their children from potential predators in the digital space.
“It can be really anybody that gets involved in this, and more importantly, it can be any kind of child that’s being targeted,” Liquorie said. Parents have to be active with that and put guardrails around their social media use and internet use.”
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Area priest charged with sexual assault involving minor
Alleged victim reported being sexually assaulted on two occasions between 1996 and 1999, York Regional Police say
A Coptic Church priest from East Gwillimbury has been charged in connection with the historical sexual assault of a minor.
An alleged victim came forward to York Region Police last November to report they had been sexually assaulted on two occasions between 1996 and 1999.
At the time of the assault, the victim was under the age of 16, police stated in a news release.
Investigators have released the suspect’s photograph as they believe there may be more potential victims.
Michelle (aka Michael) Shafik, 47, has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference.
None of the allegations have been tested in court.
A sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature, police say.
York Regional Police encourages anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a sexual assault to come forward and report the incident. There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence.
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Former Vandalia Christian School teacher used AI to create explicit images of students, investigators say
A Guilford County judge set a $750,000 secured bond Monday for a former Vandalia Christian School teacher accused of using artificial intelligence and photo editing software to superimpose his students’ faces onto child sexual abuse material.
Richard Lynn Upright, 56, appeared in court for the first time following his Feb. 27 arrest on 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. A detective testified that investigators ultimately identified 111 confirmed images of child sexual abuse material tied to Upright across seven cyber tips submitted by Google to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
At the hearing, the judge acknowledged the emotional nature of the case but said the bond decision had to be grounded in law and evidence. Citing sentencing guidelines that recommend a secured bond range of $15,000 to $75,000 for a Class E felony — the classification that carries a maximum of 136 months in prison per count — the judge applied that range across all 10 charges and set bond at $750,000.
Detective Miller of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office testified that the investigation into Upright began in December 2025 after Google flagged a Drive account linked to him and reported it to NCMEC. The tip was routed through the FBI and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation before landing with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. A subpoena to Charter Communications confirmed the IP address was registered to Upright’s home on Pleasant Garden Road, less than a mile from Vandalia Christian School.
Search warrants executed at both locations on Feb. 27 revealed that many of the images depicted students whose faces had been manipulated onto explicit material using AI or photo editing tools, according to detective testimony.
A parent of two students — one currently in Upright’s class, one who had him as a teacher six years ago — addressed the court and urged the judge not to release him. He described one daughter’s fear of adult men, her reluctance to attend a dance competition and her difficulty navigating the school day without a parent present.
“Not being able to protect my child from that and being able to see this,” the father said, “is trying.”
Upright, who was appointed a public defender at the hearing, waived a probable-cause hearing and is scheduled to return to Guilford County district court on March 31. The investigation is ongoing.
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Haslet pastor resigns after son arrested for failed sex offender registration
- Eric Crawford has resigned as pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Haslet after his son, a registered sex offender, was revealed to have been working at the church and related school.
- The church, which did not immediately name a replacement for Crawford, said they will review their security procedures to prevent a similar event from happening again.
- Caleb Crawford was arrested in late Feb. 2026 for failing to comply with his yearly registration as a sex offender.
A Haslet pastor has resigned after his son, a sex offender, was arrested for failing to register his status and was revealed to have been working at a local school.
Heritage Baptist Church released a statement on Monday, March 2, announcing that Eric Crawford has resigned his position as pastor at the church.
Crawford had been on leave since late Feb. 2026 after his son, Caleb Crawford, was arrested for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. He allegedly failed to report his job status with the department, which he is legally required to do.
The church says it is taking more steps to enhance security practices, including a new visitor access system and more secure background checks, in the wake of Caleb Crawford’s arrest. An increased security presence will also be seen at the church.
No immediate replacement for Eric Crawford has been announced by the church. The church’s statement says they will appoint an interim pastor who will guide the search for a permanent pastor.
Sex offender working at school
The church and its school, Heritage Christian Academy, recently terminated Caleb Crawford’s contract as a maintenance worker after parents discovered his status as a lifetime registered sex offender. He was also one of the music leaders at the church.
Parents told police they saw Crawford working as a janitor and observed him installing security cameras at the school. They also said their children were able to identify Caleb Crawford by name and knew the car he drove.
Crawford’s arrest affidavit also states parents told police that several staff members and teachers at the school knew of Caleb’s status, but were told not to tell parents.
Former victim, family member speaks out
Taylor Hamilton, Crawford’s cousin, spoke with FOX 4’s Amelia Jones in February about her cousin’s history of sexual indecency.
When Hamilton was 12, she says her cousin, Caleb Crawford, who was 17 years old at the time, started sexually touching her.
Redacted court documents say the unwanted touching mostly happened over clothes. It continued until Hamilton was 14 and Caleb Crawford was leaving for college at 19.
Survivor speaks out against sex offender working at church school
Caleb Crawford was arrested for indecency with a child. The trial in 2016 ended with Caleb taking a plea deal. He would go to prison for two years and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
“It’s a big thing for me to be able to say this happened to me, but it doesn’t define who I am. To be able to put a face to a name for people because this isn’t just an accusation. This is something that he was convicted of and served time for. No matter what anyone says, he was found guilty,” said Hamilton.
The Source: Information in this story came from a Heritage Baptist Church Facebook post and previous FOX 4 reporting.
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Diocese of Syracuse wraps $176 million bankruptcy settlement in ‘journey of reparation’
The Diocese of Syracuse, New York, has formally closed out its long-running bankruptcy, funding a victims’ trust with more than $176 million to settle claims.
The move concludes a “journey of reparation” begun in June 2020 to “provide compensation for the pain and mistreatment experienced by survivors/victims of sexual abuse at the hands of those entrusted with their care,” wrote Syracuse Bishop Douglas J. Lucia in a Feb. 25 letter to diocesan faithful.
He noted that Chief Judge Wendy Kinsella of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York, had approved the final decree in the nearly six-year case that same day.
The bishop said the diocese had “conveyed its commitment” to the agreed-upon victim’s trust fund, with $76.1 million provided by insurance and $100 million from what he called “our ‘Catholic family’” — parishes ($45 million), the diocese itself ($50) through “a combination of investments and loans,” and other diocesan entities ($5 million). The monies will be awarded by an independent arbiter, he said.
411 claims brought forward under two lookback laws
The diocese faced 411 unique claims from abuse survivors brought under two New York lookback laws after the Child Victims Act and the Adult Survivors Act took effect in New York state.
Together, the two acts allowed claims of abuse to be filed regardless of any prior statute of limitations. The CVA accepted filings through April 15, 2021, and the Adult Survivor Act through Jan. 17, 2023.
He noted the plan relies on a channeling injunction, a legal mechanism under U.S. bankruptcy code that funnels claims to a trust established to make payouts to both current and, in particular, future claimants.
With claims against the diocese, parishes and other Catholic entities resolved through the victims’ trust, the channeling injunction ensures “a comprehensive and just response,” providing “a unified path toward reparation rather than individual legal actions,” said Bishop Lucia.
He added that the plan “formalizes our commitment to Safe Environment policies, ensuring our protection protocols remain rigorous and effective in preventing a repetition of the past.”
Bishop expresses sorrow for survivors and apologizes on behalf of local Church
Bishop Lucia admitted that “we did not foresee how long this journey would take.” He noted “the wait has been a significant burden for those who filed claims,” as well as “the heaviness this has placed on the hearts of the faithful who have been scarred by this chapter in our local Church.”
“Throughout this Chapter 11 process, I have met with survivors who courageously shared their stories and expressed the depth of their pain,” said Bishop Lucia. “As your Bishop, words cannot adequately express my feelings and sorrow regarding such heinous behavior, but I again offer my most heartfelt apology to those who have suffered such harm and for any past neglect in addressing it.”
He invited diocesan faithful, and “especially survivors of abuse and their families,” to a special Mass on April 26, known as “Blue Sunday,” a day of prayer for those affected by abuse, and part of the observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
OSV News reached out to Jeff Anderson and Associates, which is representing a number of abuse survivors in the settlement with the Syracuse Diocese. A representative replied the firm declined to comment.
“Beyond doubt, my heart continues to break for the damage that abuse has inflicted on the Church and its members,” Bishop Lucia said. “To the survivors and their families, I express genuine sorrowfulness and a firm resolve to ensure that future generations do not experience this scourge.”
“The Catholic Church in the United States has made a ‘Promise to Protect’ and a ‘Pledge to Heal,’” he said, referencing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops‘ norms on addressing clergy abuse. “As part of that Church, we must remain ever vigilant.”
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See SNAP press release
Teachers told not to tell parents about sex offender working at Haslet school: affidavit
- A convicted sex offender who was working at Haslet school was registered to work in Fort Worth since at least 2021, an arrest affidavit shows.
- The arrest warrant document also states parents told police that several staffers and teachers knew about Caleb Crawford’s status, but were told not to tell parents.
- Crawford was arrested last week for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements. His father, the pastor at Heritage Baptist Church, has temporarily stepped down.
Arrest warrant documents reveal the timeline that led to the arrest of a convicted sex offender working for a Haslet church and school after he failed to report his status.
Timeline of the arrest
Caleb Crawford was released from prison in 2018, and was required to register annually as a sex offender with the Fort Worth Police Department.
According to the affidavit, Crawford has reported his work address in Fort Worth since 2021.
During his last annual registration in Oct. 2025, he reported his occupation as “self-employed construction.”
Last week on Feb. 16., parents at Heritage Christian Academy alerted police that Crawford was working at the school.
Sex offender working at school
The pastor’s son was picked up on an outstanding warrant for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. He allegedly failed to report his job status with the department, which he is legally required to do.
The church and its school, Heritage Christian Academy, recently terminated his contract as a maintenance worker after parents discovered his status as a lifetime registered sex offender. He was also one of the music leaders at the church.
Parents told police they saw Crawford working as a janitor and observed him installing security cameras at the school. They also said their children were able to identify Caleb Crawford by name and knew the car he drove.
The documents also state parents told police that several staff members and teachers at the school knew of Caleb’s status, but were told not to tell parents.
Also on Feb. 19, the church announced that Pastor Crawford would be temporarily stepping down from his duties pending an internal church financial review.
Former victim, family member speaks out
Taylor Hamilton, Crawford’s cousin, spoke with FOX 4’s Amelia Jones earlier this week about her cousin’s history of sexual indecency.
When Hamilton was 12, she says her cousin, Caleb Crawford, who was 17 years old at the time, started sexually touching her.
Redacted court documents say the unwanted touching mostly happened over clothes. It continued until Hamilton was 14 and Caleb Crawford was leaving for college at 19.
“I couldn’t sleep at night. I was a young child and couldn’t sleep at night. So, I took it to court.”
At 16, when she moved out of her aunt and uncle’s house, she told her father, who reported it to the police.
Caleb Crawford was arrested for indecency with a child. The trial in 2016 ended with Caleb taking a plea deal. He would go to prison for two years and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
“It’s a big thing for me to be able to say this happened to me, but it doesn’t define who I am. To be able to put a face to a name for people because this isn’t just an accusation. This is something that he was convicted of and served time for. No matter what anyone says, he was found guilty,” said Hamilton.
Caleb Crawford has bonded out of jail. His court date for this arrest is scheduled for August.
His father Eric remains on leave from Heritage Baptist Church, but there are calls from residents for his permanent resignation.
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Religious advisor arrested and charged with sexual and indecent assault
Local religious advisor George Giorgetti was arrested and charged with sexual assault and indecent assault in December, according to arrest records obtained by KFOX14/CBS4.
Giorgetti was arrested on Dec. 17 for one count of sexual assault and released the same day. He was then arrested on Dec. 24 on an indecent assault charge and released the same day.
The charges against Giorgetti come after a civil lawsuit was filed last April, which accused a local recovery program and Giorgetti of sexually abusing five men enrolled in a court-mandated treatment program, according to court documents previously obtained by KFOX14/CBS4.
However, it is unclear whether the charges against Giorgetti are connected to the lawsuit.
In a statement to KFOX14/CBS4, Giorgetti’s attorney said his client maintains his innocence.
“My client maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously defend himself against the pending allegations. While we respect the seriousness of the charges and the judicial process, this case will be decided in a court of law — not in the court of public opinion. My client is eager to have his day in court, where the evidence can be fully examined and the facts presented in their proper context. Because this matter is ongoing, we will not litigate the case through the media, but we are confident that the legal process will ultimately vindicate him.”
According to the lawsuit, five former residents of Casa Vida de Salud say they were groomed, assaulted, and threatened by Giorgetti, who also goes by Jorge Georgetti, a chaplain and recovery coach who worked closely with residents.
The Recovery Alliance of El Paso, a non-profit organization, operates residential and sober living recovery programs for those struggling with substance use and addiction, including Casa Vida, a 37-bed residential recovery center in central El Paso, according to its website.
In the lawsuit, five men say that through the summer of 2024, a spiritual advisor, Giorgetti, used his authority over them to serially abuse them.
The lawsuit from April 2025 is against El Paso Alliance-Casa Vida De Salud and Giorgetti.
In a previous emailed statement to KFOX14/CBS4, Jonathan Baeza, an attorney who represents the men in the lawsuit, said the men had reported the allegations against Giorgetti to the El Paso police, where, at the time, he said it remains an ongoing investigation.
“We want the public to know that on July 25, 2024, the victims reported these allegations to the El Paso Police Department, where the matter remains under active investigation. In response to a public-records request, the City Attorney’s Office confirmed that investigative records cannot be released at this time because disclosure would interfere with an ongoing investigation. We commend our clients for their courage in coming forward to both law enforcement and through the civil justice system. While we cannot comment on the specifics of the criminal investigation, we remain committed to supporting our clients through both processes and ensuring full accountability for the alleged abuse that occurred at Casa Vida,” Baeza said in November.
Meanwhile, arrest records also show that both charges will be handled by the El Paso County Attorney.
Giorgetti is currently associated with Our Lady of the Abandoned Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, and practices Catholicism Anglican Rite, but is not part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso.
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Texarkana pastor arrested on five counts of rape
A pastor in Texarkana has been arrested in connection with an alleged rape case.
Cedric Monteze Sharp, 51, was arrested on Wednesday, February 11, on five counts of rape, according to court documents. Sharp serves as the pastor of Bright Star Missionary Baptist Church in Texarkana. Initially, he was being held at the Miller County jail, but has since been released.
Details regarding the allegations have not been released at this time, but Sharp is prohibited from harassing or communicating with the victim.
He is also prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages or any controlled substances or medications unless prescribed. Additionally, he is not allowed to carry a firearm or ammunition.
Sharp’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 9:00 a.m. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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