Ex-priest arrested for allegedly stealing $740,000 from churches, groups – and his own mother

Following a three-year investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, led by Chief Deputy AG Patrick Schulte, Madeya has now been charged with a string of financial offenses.

VERO BEACH, Florida — Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, was arrested in Vero Beach, Florida, last month and extradicted to Pennsylvania, where he allegedly stole from three churches prior to his suspension in February 2024 A former Catholic priest has been arrested and accused of stealing $740,000 from his church, its affiliates and parishioners – and even his own mother.

Arrest and charges

Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, was arrested in Vero Beach, Florida, on August 14 and has since been extradited back to Pennsylvania, where, according to The Latrobe Bulletin, he served as priest of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Derry Township until he was suspended in February 2024.

He faces one first-degree felony for dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, six second-degree felonies and one third-degree felony for theft, a second-degree felony for financial exploitation of an older adult and a third-degree felony for fraud.

Charges and court proceedings

Following a three-year investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, led by Chief Deputy AG Patrick Schulte, Madeya has now been charged with a string of financial offenses.