Retired Pittsburgh-Area Priest Stole $740K From Churches, His Mother: Authorities

HARRISBURG – A former Pittsburgh-area Ukrainian Catholic priest allegedly stole more than $740,000 from three Western Pennsylvania churches, church affiliates and his own mother.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Monday that Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, is charged with felony dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, theft by unlawful taking, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person, and access device fraud.

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Madeya, now residing in Florida, was arrested Friday in Vero Beach, and is awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania.

According to the investigators, Madeya is charged with thefts dating back to 2018. He stole from churches and the Knights of Columbus, and nearly $250,000 from his mother, who was too old to manage her own finances.

"It is unconscionable to see a supposed man of God exploiting not only the churches he served, but his own mother," Sunday said. "This defendant abused the trust of those around him, and left them to recover from mammoth financial losses."

WATCH: Sunday discuss charges against Gregory Madeya.

The charges stem from a multi-year investigation into Madeya's conduct.

On Madeya's electronic devices, investigators found messages and photos related to narcotics as well as photographs of debit cards and bank documents related to his church, St. John the Baptist. In Madeya's trash, agents found several church-offering collection envelopes.

Over the course of the probe, witnesses from across the church community relayed instances of missing collections money and fundraising proceeds, donations, rent and church-related fees that were never deposited into church accounts.

Investigators spoke with a jeweler who was allegedly approached by Madeya, acting as a representative of the church, wanting to sell a gold chalice. This chalice was purchased for $19,440, under the belief that the money was going to help the church's finances.

During the same period of time as the thefts, Madeya made a cash purchase of a 2018 Ford Mustang for $35,433.58, which was given to the man living with him.

In addition to the church-related thefts, investigators found that Madeya's mother was evicted from multiple nursing homes because of a lack of payment. Madeya is accused of abusing his position as his mother's power of attorney to steal funds meant for her care.

In all, Madeya is accused of fraudulently misappropriating $319,997.03 from multiple church-related people and entities, and more than $230,000 from his mother's investment accounts. He also failed to fulfill the resulting tax responsibility of $248,663.43.