Rochester man pleads guilty to stealing $150G from Barrington church while pastor

Gregory Neal, 45, Rochester, pleaded guilty to a one-count alleging wire fraud. (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD - An executive pastor pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to using Journey Baptist Church's debit and credit cards without authorization, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced.

Gregory Neal of Rochester, 45, pleaded guilty to a one-count information alleging wire fraud. U.S. Sentencing is scheduled for July 19.

The defendant's employment entailed overseeing the church's daily operations, including control over its finances. From January 2017 to March 2020, the defendant made unauthorized withdrawals of the church's funds to pay off his own gambling debts and made unauthorized purchases with the church's credit cards for his own personal benefit. These unauthorized transactions amounted to roughly $130,000, according to court documents.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a maximum fine that is the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The U.S. Secret Service led the investigation.