Former priest charged with stealing $740,000 from three churches and his mother

Gregory Allen Madeya, a 69-year-old former priest, was arrested in Vero Beach, Florida, on August 14 and later extradited to Pennsylvania, where he is accused of embezzling about $740,000 from three churches, affiliated organizations and his own mother. Madeya served at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Derry Township until his suspension in February 2024. The charges follow a three-year investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, led by Deputy Attorney General Patrick Schulte.

Madeya faces one first-degree felony count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, six second-degree felony counts and one third-degree felony count of theft. He is also charged with one second-degree felony count of financial exploitation of an older adult and one third-degree felony count of fraud. Investigators say he withdrew more than $75,000 from his church's general and savings accounts between 2021 and 2022.

Thefts at several parishes

Besides the church in Derry Township, Madeya is accused of stealing from two other churches, in McKeesport and Jeannette, which also belong to the Eparchy of St. Josaphat, the Ukrainian Catholic jurisdiction that oversees the churches in the area, and from the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic fraternal organization. In one instance, prosecutors say he sold a gold chalice belonging to one of the churches to a local jeweler for $19,440 and kept the money.

Exploitation of his mother

The attorney general's office says Madeya took nearly $250,000 from his mother, who could not manage her own finances because of her age and for whom he held power of attorney. In all, prosecutors estimate he embezzled $740,409.96 since 2018. Investigators found church collection envelopes in his trash and photographs of debit cards and bank documents on his personal devices.

Where the money went

Prosecutors allege he used the money to buy illegal drugs in exchange for sex acts with a man he lived with in West Mifflin. They say he also paid for vacations abroad, cruises and a $35,500 Ford Mustang that he gave to the same man. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said: "It is inconceivable to see a supposed man of God exploiting not only the churches he served, but also his own mother. This defendant abused the trust of those around him and left them dealing with enormous financial losses."

Corrective measures in the parishes

Robert G. Del Greco Jr., the attorney for Madeya's church, said it had been a deep loss for the parishes, which are continuing their work while they try to rebuild their finances and hope to receive some compensation from their insurance. The corrective measures require each parish to file a quarterly financial statement, including its bank statement and copies of checks, for inspection and review. The finance officer and lay people appointed for their experience in financial matters oversee that review.

Madeya waived his preliminary hearing, and Magisterial District Judge Joseph R. DeMarchis set bail at $25,000. He is due to appear in Westmoreland County Court on October 14 for arraignment.