A suspended Catholic priest, Fr. Rodney Rodis, who embezzled $432,000 from two rural parishes while living a double life was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison.WVEC.com reports that Fr. Rodis, 52, will serve the state prison term after he has completed a five-year federal sentence.
At a sentencing hearing, Louisa Circuit Judge Timothy K. Sanner sentenced Rodis to the maximum term of 200 years and suspended all but 13 years. A jury convicted Rodis on the 10 embezzlement counts in October.
Many of his former flock were unhappy with the federal sentence and sought his prosecution on state charges. According to testimony at his state trial, Rodis said he stole the money to help his family and others in his native Philippines.
But Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Thomas A. Garrett Jr. said that Rodis invested in properties in his native country, including an upscale waterfront property.
He also supported a wife and three children in Virginia, whom he concealed from his parishioners. The wife and children now live in New Mexico.
Authorities said Rodis set up bank accounts and a post office box where he directed parishioners to send contributions. He then transferred the money to his personal account.
Rodis was pastor at the central Virginia parishes of St. Jude and Immaculate Conception from 1993 until May 2006, when he retired because of health problems.
Louisa County prosecutors have estimated that Rodis stole more than $1 million from the two parishes. The 10 embezzlement convictions relate only to the years 2003-2006.
The government has attempted to seek restitution but has had difficulty untangling his foreign investments.
"Not one dime has been returned," a Louisa County prosecutor, Rusty McGuire, said.
While Rodis is still considered a priest by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, his suspension means he has been stripped of all his church duties.
"He can't say Mass. He can't represent himself as a priest. And he's not allowed the say the sacraments of the church," said Steve Neill, a spokesman for the diocese.
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(Source: CTHUS)