Catholic Priest Stole $40K from the Church to Play Candy Crush
A Catholic priest has been placed on administrative leave, but not for the typical reasons we are used to hearing about.
This particular priest allegedly embezzled over $40,000 from the church to fuel his gaming addiction. Lawrence Kozak, according to authorities, took funds meant for the church to spend on popular mobile games such as Candy Crush Saga, Cash Frenzy, Mario Kart Tour, and Pokémon Go, as well as the "Wizard of Oz" slot machines. These games don't offer any way to win real money; however, they do allow you to spend it in the games.
Pennsylvania State Police uncovered a shocking pattern of over 2,000 transactions labeled as 'gaming' from September 2019 to June 2022. Despite the undeniable evidence, Kozak told authorities that he wasn't gambling but merely 'powering up,' as reported by CBS News.
Kozak was formally arrested on April 25 and charged with theft by unlawful taking, failing to make the required disposition of funds and accessing a device he was unauthorized to.
However, Kozak's alleged misuse of church funds didn't stop at gaming. Authorities further revealed that the credit card linked to the church's accounts was also utilized for personal purchases, including gifts for his goddaughter. Items reportedly bought with the stolen funds include an Amazon Fire tablet and a chemistry set.
As investigations continue, the Catholic Church and law enforcement authorities are expected to take appropriate action to address the matter and ensure accountability for any wrongdoing. They did respond to the accusations in the following statement.
Father Lawrence Kozak was placed on administrative leave by the Archdiocese in November of 2022. His administrative leave followed a review of Saint Thomas More Parish’s financial activity by the Archdiocesan Office for Parish Services and Support. That review resulted in certain expenses and expenditure levels utilizing parish funds being questioned. The Archdiocese then referred the matter to law enforcement.