A former Pennsylvania priest, Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, has been arrested in Florida in connection with an alleged scheme to steal approximately $750,000 from three churches, affiliated organizations, and his own mother.
Authorities announced the arrest on August 14, detailing thefts that reportedly began in 2018. Madeya, who previously served at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in McKeesport, is accused of taking funds from parishes, the Knights of Columbus, and nearly $250,000 from his mother. Investigators stated his mother was unable to manage her finances due to old age.
"It is unconscionable to see a supposed man of God exploiting not only the churches he served, but his own mother," Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. "This defendant abused the trust of those around him and left them to recover from mammoth financial losses."
According to investigators, Madeya fraudulently misappropriated $319,997.03 from churches and parishioners, and over $230,000 from his mother's investment accounts. He is also accused of failing to pay $248,663.43 in taxes. The investigation revealed that some churches reported missing collection money, fundraising proceeds, donations, rent, and fees that were never deposited into official accounts.
Madeya allegedly purchased a 2018 Ford Mustang for $35,433.58 and gave it to an individual residing with him during the period of the alleged thefts. In one instance, a jeweler reportedly stated Madeya attempted to sell a gold chalice that had cost $19,440.
Madeya faces charges including 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. He was extradited to Pennsylvania and waived his preliminary hearing on Thursday, opting to proceed directly to trial. His bail was reduced to $25,000, but he has not yet posted it and remains at the Westmoreland County Prison.
Madeya's attorney, Patrick Thomassey, told reporters outside the courthouse that the judge and attorney general were reasonable regarding bail. Thomassey declined to comment on the case's specifics but suggested there is "a lot to be said about the whole situation involving how priests are paid in the Catholic Church."