Ex-Pastor Charged With Stealing $25,000 In Church Funds

The former pastor of a Rockland County Roman Catholic Church has been charged with stealing $25,000 from the church to pay for personal expenses including online gambling, according to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe.

The Rev. Thomas Kreiser, 45, of 21 Cinder Road, Garnerville, is charged with one count of third-degree grand larceny in connection with the illicit use of an American Express card for St. Gregory Barbarigo Church in Garnerville from March to June 2010.

Kreiser was been pastor of the church from 2008 until his resignation in June 2010.

“This defendant, a Roman Catholic priest, embezzled thousands of dollars from St. Gregory’s Church and improperly used the money for his personal benefit," Zugibe said. "His conduct represents a betrayal of the trust of his parishioners who looked to him for moral leadership and spiritual guidance.”

Zugibe said the misappropriation was uncovered during an Archdiocesan review of the administration of the parish, including an audit. Zugibe said restitution in full has already been paid to the parish.

Kreiser was arraigned in Haverstraw Town Court by Judge Peter Branti and released pending a May 12 hearing. Kreiser’s arrest followed an investigation by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit.

If convicted, Kreiser faces a possible state prison sentence of up to seven years, Zugibe said.