MISSOULA – A Butte pastor admitted to embezzling $288,757 from a church over a four-year period.

Kenneth Emmett Hogue, 66, of Butte, pleaded guilty to wire fraud as charged in an information during an initial appearance. Hogue faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Hogue appeared Thursday on wire fraud charges and admitted to embezzling $288,757 U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Hogue was released pending further proceedings.

Hogue’s sentencing was set for Dec. 12, 2019. Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen is hearing the case.

According to court documents, Hogue began serving as pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Butte in 1982. In April 2012, Hogue was elected secretary/treasurer of the Rocky Mountain District of the UPC. Hogue’s duties as secretary/treasurer included making church offering deposits at the bank, writing checks for church expenses, maintaining financial records and preparing annual financial statements in conjunction with the church’s annual conferences.

From June 2012 to July 2016, Hogue embezzled $288,757 from the church. He admitted the fraud to church personnel and during an FBI interview in March 2018. Hogue carried out the scheme by using a debit card that belonged to the District to withdraw cash from ATMs, by issuing an unauthorized check to himself from a District bank account and by opening a new bank account in the name of the District, without permission, and transferring money into that account. He later removed the transferred money using ATM transactions.