A Pennsylvania priest has been arrested after authorities accused him of stealing $750,000 from three churches, church-related organizations and his own mother.
Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, was taken into custody in Florida on August 14 over alleged thefts that date back to 2018, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said.
Madeya, who served at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in McKeesport, is accused of taking money from parishes, the Knights of Columbus and nearly $250,000 from his mother after she became unable to manage her finances because of advanced age.
‘It is unconscionable to see a supposed man of God exploiting not only the churches he served, but his own mother,’ Attorney General Sunday said.
‘This defendant abused the trust of those around him and left them to recover from mammoth financial losses.’
Officials said investigators found that Madeya’s mother had been evicted from multiple nursing home facilities because payments were not made.
Authorities also alleged that the priest bought a 2018 Ford Mustang for $35,433.58 and gave it to a man who was living with him during the period of the alleged thefts.
Officials said: ‘Witnesses from across the church community relayed instances of missing collections money and fundraising proceeds, donations, rent, and church-related fees that were never deposited into church accounts.’
Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, was arrested in Florida on August 14 in connection with thefts dating back to 2018, from parishes, the Knights of Columbus, and nearly $250,000 from his mother
Madeya is seen being ushered into the back of a police car by a sheriff’s deputy
Madeya, who served as a priest St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in McKeesport (Pictured), allegedly purchased a 2018 Ford Mustang for $35,433.58 and gave it to a man living with him during the time of the alleged thefts
In one instance, investigators said they spoke to a jeweler who was allegedly approached by Madeya.
The priest was accused of trying to sell a gold chalice that was purchased for $19,440.
On Thursday, alongside his attorney, the priest appeared in court after he was extradited to Pennsylvania and waived his preliminary hearing, choosing to take his case directly to court, according to CBS News.
‘The judge was very reasonable, and the attorney general was very reasonable, so we had his bail reduced to a monetary bail, which he can post, and he has been in jail now for approximately three weeks,’ said the priest’s attorney, Patrick Thomassey, to reporters outside the courthouse.
‘This case involves a tremendous amount of paperwork. I am not going to comment on the truthfulness or accuracy of the case, but I think it is one where we could have a trial, and there is a lot to be said about the whole situation involving how priests are paid in the Catholic Church.’
On Thursday, alongside his attorney, the priest appeared in court after he was extradited to Pennsylvania and waived his preliminary hearing
The priest was accused of trying to sell a gold chalice that was purchased for $19,440
Patrick Thomassey, told reporters outside the courthouse the prosecutors and the judge we’re being very ‘reasonable’ but he would not give ‘comment on the truthfulness or accuracy of the case’
Officials said that Madeya fraudulently misappropriated $319,997.03 from multiple churches and followers, as well as more than $230,000 from his mother’s investment accounts.
He is also accused of failing to pay $248,663.43 in taxes.
Madeya faces charges of felony dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, theft by unlawful taking, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person, and access device fraud.
According to his criminal docket, cited by CBS, the priest has yet to post his $25,000 bail and is housed at the Westmoreland County Prison.
