CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Justice announced on July 15 that former AME Zion Church bishop Staccato Powell pleaded guilty to federal fraud and conspiracy charges related to seizing control over church properties in California through deception and forged documents.
Powell, 65, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Sheila Quintana were indicted in 2022. Quintana pleaded guilty to conspiracy in April 2025.
In 2016, shortly after becoming bishop, Powell created Western Episcopal District, Inc. (WED, Inc.) to represent the AME Zion Church’s Western District. Powell served as CEO, with Quintana as CFO from 2017 to 2019.
Powell instructed AME Zion pastors to transfer titles of church properties—including buildings, parking lots, and pastors’ residences—to WED, Inc. At Powell’s direction, Quintana and other WED officers processed these grant deeds.
Starting in 2017, Powell directed the use of these properties as collateral for loans. To secure financing, Powell arranged for forged church resolutions falsely indicating approval of WED, Inc.’s loan applications. Quintana signed these documents using names of local church officers without their consent.
Between 2017 and 2019, Powell and Quintana fraudulently used five AME Zion churches across California—Kyles Temple in Vallejo, First AME Zion in San Jose, Greater Cooper in Oakland, University AME Zion in Palo Alto, and First AME Zion in Los Angeles—to secure over $11 million in unauthorized loans.
Powell admitted to using $5.15 million of these loans to pay off prior debts and diverted funds for personal expenses, including property for his children and his own mortgage.
In July 2020, Powell caused WED, Inc. to file for bankruptcy, listing assets including 11 churches, a parsonage, and his official residence worth over $26 million, against debts exceeding $12 million.
As part of his plea deal, Powell agreed to pay between $3 million and $12.47 million in restitution and to forfeit any claim to AME Zion church properties.
Powell is currently out on bond and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 23, 2025. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count, with sentencing determined by federal guidelines.
