On Monday, a prominent pastor of Second Samoa Congregational Church in Long Beach admitted that he had stolen nearly one hundred thousand dollars from a disabled veteran named Phillip Campbell, who was under his care. 

Reverend Misi Tagaloa was immediately sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service after entering a no contest plea to the felony charge of stealing from an elderly dependent person as part of a plea bargain with the prosecutors.

Admitting Stealing Huge Amount of Money From Disabled Veteran

As Tagaloa admitted stealing a considerable amount from Campbell, he was also demanded to repay the sum of $96,000 that he stole from an Air Force Veteran who had schizophrenia and could not care for himself. 

As reported by the Long Beach Post, the judge had previously stated that she would likely sentence Tagaloa to three years in prison if he pleaded guilty. The sentence that was negotiated, however, is significantly less than that.

It also mentioned that the office of the state attorney general, which was in charge of the prosecution of the case, stated that the decision to offer Tagaloa a probationary sentence was in line with his decision to accept responsibility for the offense he committed.

Meanwhile, it took nearly two decades of searching for him before his family learned that he was living in that house under Tagaloa's care and that he had taken over management of his assets, including his $2,900 per month in VA pension benefits.

The report also revealed that the investigator discovered $11,305 in credit card payments, $11,000 worth of rent, gifts, and tithes to Tagaloa's Second Samoan Church, in addition to $3,319 in cash withdrawals. 

They also discovered that Tagaloa spent thousands online trading stocks and buying clothes.

Campbell’s Death After Tagaloa’s Felony

Felony charges of grand theft and theft from an elderly dependant were filed against Tagaloa in August 2020 by the California Attorney General's Office. However, Campbell passed away a month later in a Palos Verdes nursing home, where his children had the opportunity to pay their last respect.

Meanwhile, Tagaloa admitted that he spent money from Campbell's account because he believed it was in the best interest of Campbell and his church.

The LB Post reported that Tagaloa would be prohibited from serving as a trustee or guardian for any veterans during his probation period, which will last for two years. 

It is also forbidden for him to undertake any of the community duty required at any veteran organizations or churches.

About Rev. Misi Tagaloa

Throughout his career in the financial sector, Misi Tagaloa has accumulated more than thirty years of experience. In 1986, he established a start-up company that provided instruction on financial matters, insurance, and mutual funds, according to his bio on the church’s website.

Misi was ordained by the United Church of Christ in 2001 after completing his seminary coursework at Claremont School of Theology in 1994. 

A Claremont doctorate in Practical Theology, Misi's dissertation codified Tafesilafa'i Festival, a cultural and educational platform that redefines justice work for Samoans in the U.S.