Priest Indicted for Stealing $250k from Church and His Mother

A Pennsylvania priest faces federal charges after allegedly stealing a quarter million dollars from three churches, church affiliates, and even his own mother. Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, was taken into custody in Florida on August 14 for crimes that reportedly stretch back to 2018. Attorney General Dave Sunday called the situation unconscionable because this supposed man of God exploited both the parishes he served and the elderly woman who trusted him with her finances.

Madeya worked at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in McKeesport where officials say he pocketed funds meant for donations, rent, and church fees. The scope of the thefts included nearly $250,000 taken from his mother who could no longer manage her own money due to old age. Investigators found that she was eventually evicted from multiple nursing homes because payments stopped coming in.

The priest spent some of the stolen cash on a 2018 Ford Mustang costing $35,433.58 which he then gave to a man living with him during the alleged thefts. In another incident Madeya allegedly approached a jeweler about selling a gold chalice that had been purchased for $19,440. Witnesses across the community told investigators about missing collections and fundraising proceeds that never made it into official accounts.

Officials reported that Madeya fraudulently misappropriated exactly $319,997.03 from churches and followers while also draining more than $230,000 from his mother's investment accounts. He is additionally accused of failing to pay $248,663.43 in taxes over the years. His criminal docket lists charges ranging from theft by unlawful taking to financial exploitation of an older adult and access device fraud.

On Thursday Madeya appeared in court alongside attorney Patrick Thomassey after being extradited to Pennsylvania where he waived his preliminary hearing. The judge reduced his bail to a monetary amount that the priest can post since he has already spent about three weeks in jail. Thomassey told reporters outside the courthouse that both the judge and the prosecutor acted very reasonable during these proceedings.

The defense lawyer noted that the case involves a tremendous amount of paperwork but refused to comment on the truthfulness or accuracy of the charges against his client. He did mention that there is something important to be said about how priests are paid within the Catholic Church structure. Madeya remains housed at Westmoreland County Prison and has yet to post the $25,000 bail required for his release.