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Sentence In Scam Next For Ex-Manager Of Catholic Parish

TROY, Mich. (AP) - The former manager of a Catholic church in suburban Detroit is returning to court for her sentence in a case that brought scandal to the prosperous parish.

Janice Verschuren kept her divorced husband on health insurance at St. Thomas More Church in Troy at a cost of $26,000. She'll get her sentence on Monday in Detroit federal court.

The case began with felony charges of fraud and conspiracy involving her boss, the Rev. Ed Belczak, who embezzled more than $500,000. But Verschuren pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor involving insurance in a deal with prosecutors. She cooperated with investigators.

Belczak is serving a 27-month prison sentence. The priest used some stolen cash to buy a Florida condominium from Verschuren. He said he wanted to live like the people he served.

 

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