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An expert in parish financial misconduct told The Pillar that the recent arrest of a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest represents possibly the worst case he has encountered, and that numerous red flags were missed, which might have curtailed the priest’s alleged criminal activity well before he was caught.
The case involves a 69-year-old priest accused of stealing nearly $750,000 over five years, from various Church entities and his own elderly mother. The alleged crime was discovered during a narcotics investigation which uncovered drug-related messages and photos on the priest’s phone, the Pennsylvania attorney general said.
“This case is a cross between ‘Breaking Bad’ and the ‘Bells of St. Mary,’” said retired IRS criminal investigator Robert Warren, an associate professor of accounting at Radford University.
Warren stressed that there were years of warnings were missed in the case – and said that if they had been heeded, the alleged theft could have been stopped much sooner.
Father Gregory Madeya, 69, was arrested last Friday at his residence in Florida. He faces 10 charges related to theft and exploitation of an elderly adult.
“Father Madeya
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