- Lawrence Kozak allegedly used church credit card to make purchases
- Used money to make purchases on mobile gaming sites and buy gifts
- Former priest has been charged been bailed
A former priest has been bailed after allegedly stealing $40,000 from his church to fund his mobile gaming habits.
Lawrence Kozak, who was a pastor at St Thomas More Parish in Pittstown, Pennsylvania, was arrested in April after it was found that between September 2019 and June 2022, he had spent $40,000 on a church credit card to make gaming transactions.
Thousands of transactions
It has been reported by CBS News that Kozak made more than 2,000 gaming transactions over the time period specified, mostly on apps such as Candy Crush and Pokemon Go, as well as various slot machine games. In all, purchases worth $214,000 were made during this period, of which $40,000 were on the church credit card.
It is also alleged that Kozak used the church credit card to buy his goddaughter various gifts, including a tablet computer.
Irregularities uncovered
Local police have since charged the former priest with theft by unlawful taking, failing to make required disposition of funds and accessing a device he was not authorized to.
In a statement made to WEAU, the local Archdiocese said that Kozak had been placed on administrative leave in November 2022, following a review of the parish’s financial activity, which revealed expenses and expenditure that were questioned. The Archdiocese then referred the matter to the authorities.
Kozak remains on administrative leave from his post and has been released on bail by the authorities.
CBS has reported that Kozak has sent a letter of apology to the new priest at St Thomas More, along with a check for $8,000.
