Guilty Plea Likely From Detroit-Area Priest In Fraud Case

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A popular Oakland County Catholic priest charged with fraud is scheduled to return to court for a likely guilty plea.

The government amended the charges last week to mail fraud, accusing the Rev. Edward Belczak of sending incomplete financial reports to the Archdiocese of Detroit in 2010.

The government says Belczak concealed his theft of more than $500,000 from St. Thomas More Church in Troy. Some of that money was used to buy a Florida condominium from the parish manager in 2005.

Belczak is returning to Detroit federal court Tuesday.

Belczak, who was ordained in 1972, has been pastor of St. Thomas More Parish since 1984. He was removed from duties in 2013 after an audit raised questions about parish finances.

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