Gregory A. Madeya, 69, was charged with multiple counts of theft by unlawful taking, financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person and related charges, according to a release from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Authorities claim Madeya, who served at St. John the Baptist Church in McKeesport, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Derry Township, and St. Demetrius in Jeannette, stole from churches, the Knights of Columbus and his mother, as far back as 2018.
The Attorney General’s office said that during their investigation authorities found messages on Madeya’s electronic devices relating to drugs as well as photographs of debit cards and bank documents relating to his church. They said they also found church collection envelopes in his trash.
In addition, witnesses told police that fundraising proceeds, donations, rent and other church-related fees were never deposited into church accounts.
A jeweler told police that Madeya, acting as a representative of the church, attempted to sell a gold chalice valued at $19,440.
In total, Madeya is accused of misappropriating nearly $320,000 from multiple church-related people and entities, and more than $230,000 from his mother’s investment accounts. He also failed to pay $248,663.43 in taxes.
Madeya’s mother was evicted from multiple nursing home facilities, officials said, due to a lack of payment.
Authorities said Madeya used the money to buy a Ford Mustang worth over $35,000, exchange drug paraphernalia for sexual acts from his roommate, take expensive vacations and gamble.
Madeya was arrested Friday in Vero Beach, Florida. He is awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania.
“This conduct is an egregious betrayal of public trust,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in the press release. “Madeya was someone who was supposed to be of great wisdom and integrity. This is a very serious matter involving a lot of money and many victims. An entire community was betrayed.”