Detroit-Area Priest Who Took Money Pleads Guilty To Fraud
DETROIT (AP/WWJ) - A Catholic priest who led a suburban Detroit parish for nearly 30 years pleaded guilty to fraud Tuesday in a scheme to conceal the theft of more than $500,000, including money for a Florida condominium.
"Why am I pleading guilty? Because I am," the Rev. Edward Belczak, 70, told a judge.
Belczak's mail fraud was the act of sending incomplete financial reports to the Archdiocese of Detroit in 2010 to conceal embezzlement from St. Thomas More Church in Troy. Investigators said he stole about $573,000. Belczak opened a separate bank account with his name and the name of the church.
"I decided to do this for me," he said.
He used $109,000 to help buy a $500,000 condo near Palm Beach, Florida, from his parish manager, Janice Verschuren, who also is charged in the case.
"Father Belczak abused the sacred trust his parishioners placed in him so that he could enrich himself," U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said.
Belczak's attorney, Jerome Sabbota said his client could get three years to five years in federal prison when he returns to court Dec. 1. He must give up the condo and repay what he stole.
"He admitted to taking the loans and creating the bank account," said Sabbota. "But there's not really a lot of guidance that the church places on people that become priests and how they should manage their affairs. There is now; there wasn't a book before."
While admitting guilt, Belczak at times suggested that donors wanted him to have certain financial gifts.
"Between now and the time of sentencing, you better reflect on what you did because I'm hearing a lot of justification," U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow said.
Belczak's attorney, Jerome Sabbota, said he expects his client to get between three to five years -- and he also has to forfeit $572-thousand dollars. S
Belczak was removed from St. Thomas More in 2013 after an audit raised questions about parish finances.
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