The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release Thursday that the bishop was picked up at the San Diego airport as he attempted to leave the United States.
The Pillar reported earlier this week that Shaleta was expected to travel to Rome. He had submitted his resignation to the Vatican earlier this year.
Shaleta, who leads the Chaldean Catholic eparchy covering the western half of the United States, was arrested on eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated white collar crime enhancement, the sheriff’s office said.
“Shaleta was transported and booked at the San Diego Central Jail for the aforementioned charges. He is currently being held on $125,000 bail and a hold under Penal Code section 1275.1 was approved by the court,” the press release said.
It added that the San Diego Sheriff’s Office was originally contacted by a representative of the church last August.
He appears the first sitting U.S. diocesan bishop to be arrested on felony charges related to financial crime.
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