Chicago Priest Accused of Stealing From Nazi Camp Survivor Who Has Dementia

CHICAGO, IL - A Ukrainian Orthodox priest in Chicago has been accused of stealing more than $500,000 in German reparations from a Nazi prison camp survivor who has dementia.

The Rev. Nicholas Chervyatiuk of Holy Patronage Church in Humboldt Park hasn’t been charged with a crime, but faces serious accusations by the Cook County public guardian, according to a Chicago Tribune report. He is accused of using the money to support two restaurants he ran with a convicted drug dealer, a hair salon and several rental properties in Chicagoland.

The guardian says the victim is Nelly Bridgeman, a 93-year-old former church secretary who gave Chervyatiuk power of attorney when she was diagnosed with dementia in 2015.

But one of her home health care aides said Bridgeman was often confused and treated the priest like her deceased husband at times.

Chervyatiuk admits to signing the checks over to himself, but says that was Bridgeman’s intention. He says care services provided to her over the last several years are worth about $25,000 a year.

“It's for my work," he said while testifying in court. “It was for 14 years and I think it was time for me to get paid. ... Nelly wanted it that way."

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