Priest accused of misusing charity money for personal gains

A former priest in Buffalo, New York, now faces serious legal trouble after authorities say he took around $450, 000 meant for helping people in need. The money came from a fund that priests typically use to give small financial gifts to those struggling. Instead, he allegedly used it for his own expenses over several years. The priest made changes to church rules in 2011, giving himself full control over the fund. Normally, such funds are closely watched by church leaders to prevent misuse. But in this case, no one noticed until someone reported suspicious financial activity in 2025.Investigators found that between 2018 and mid-2025, over 700 checks were taken from the fund. Only a tiny fraction of those—just 11 checks—were actually donations. One check for $7, 000 went toward paying the priest’s personal credit card bill. When officials looked deeper, they discovered large cash deposits in his family’s bank accounts that didn’t match their reported income. The priest and his spouse shared a joint account where they deposited around $338, 000 in cash. Their reported salaries and spending habits couldn’t explain such big deposits. Once that cash was counted, their finances suddenly made sense—meaning the extra money likely covered their lifestyle without raising suspicion.