Ex-bishop pleads guilty to wire, mail fraud in multimillion dollar church property scheme

A FORMER BISHOP with an African-American Christian denomination pleaded guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy charges related to a widespread scheme to seize control of church properties across California using false statements, forged documents, and deceptive tactics, federal prosecutors said.

Staccato Powell, 65, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, entered the plea in federal court. He was indicted alongside co-defendant Sheila Quintana in January 2022. Quintana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in April.