Executive Pastor Sentenced to Prison

An executive pastor will spend the next 18 months in federal prison for stealing almost $130,000 from his church.

Gregory Neal of Barrington pleaded guilty in April to wire fraud and was sentenced Wednesday.

In addition to prison, he was ordered to pay restitution to the church and the insurance company that covered some of the losses.

Prosecutors said that between March of 2017 and January of 2020, Neal made unauthorized withdrawals of church funds to pay off gambling debts.