A former Ukrainian Catholic priest has been charged with stealing more than $740,000 (£550,000) from churches, a Catholic organisation and his own mother.
Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, was arrested in Florida on Friday following a multi-year investigation into alleged financial misconduct dating back to 2018.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said investigators believe Madeya misappropriated almost $320,000 from churches and other individuals, took more than $230,000 from his mother's investment accounts and failed to pay more than $248,000 in resulting tax liabilities.
“It is unconscionable to see a supposed man of God exploiting not only the churches he served, but his own mother,” Sunday said in a statement. “This defendant abused the trust of those around him, and left them to recover from mammoth financial losses.”
Authorities allege Madeya took money from local churches and the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organisation, as well as exploiting his position as power of attorney for his mother when she was no longer able to manage her own finances.
Investigators claim money intended to pay for her care was diverted, resulting in unpaid bills and her eviction from several nursing facilities.
The investigation also examined financial practices at St John the Baptist Church. Investigators said interviews with members of the church community raised concerns about a range of money which allegedly failed to reach church accounts, including offerings and fundraising income.
Agents searching Madeya's electronic devices also reportedly found photographs of church debit cards and banking information, while church collection envelopes were discovered in his rubbish.
The investigation also examined the attempted sale of a gold chalice. Authorities said a jeweller told them Madeya had offered him the item, which had originally been purchased for $19,440.
Prosecutors further allege that during the period under investigation, Madeya paid more than $35,000 in cash for a 2018 Ford Mustang which was given to a man living with him.
Madeya has been charged with offences including dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, theft by unlawful taking, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, financial exploitation of an older or care-dependent person and access device fraud.
He remains in custody in Florida pending extradition to Pennsylvania.
