Ex-AME Bishop Pleads Guilty in Church Fraud Case

Staccato Powell, former bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church’s Western Episcopal District, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a multi-million dollar fraud scheme involving church properties across California. Powell and his co-defendant Sheila Quintana convinced congregations in cities including Oakland, San Jose, Vallejo, Palo Alto, and Los Angeles to transfer deeds to an entity they controlled, WED, Inc. Using falsified documents, they secured over $14 million in high-interest loans, often without congregational approval. The scheme benefited Powell and Quintana personally, with funds used for expenses such as paying off a home mortgage. Powell agreed to pay up to $12.5 million in restitution and to forfeit claims to church properties. Quintana had pleaded guilty to related charges earlier in the year.