A disgraced Catholic bishop who was accused of visiting a notorious Mexican mega-brothel 12 times in one month was abruptly arrested on his way out of the country.
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.
Hellbound and Down 