Posted on 05/19/2005 5:45:51 AM PDT by murphE
A former parish business manager accused of stealing about $500,000 with another former employee pleaded guilty yesterday and admitted he used a church credit card to purchase personal items and attempted to cover up the thefts by changing church records, prosecutors said. Joseph Cavaco, 62, of Wading River padded his paychecks and used an American Express card issued to the Holy Family Parish to purchase jewelry and clothes and pay for dental work, prosecutors said. In Nassau County Court in Mineola, he admitted using the credit card to buy more than $50,000 in personal items, prosecutors said. Among the items charged were his daughter's gym membership, a diamond ring, bills at Umberto's Pizzeria - many totaling more than $1,000 a day - as well as purchases at Victoria's Secret, said Nassau Assistant District Attorney Beth LaVelle. Auditors from the Diocese of Rockville Centre discovered discrepancies in an internal audit in 2004 and Cavaco resigned that spring. He was arrested March 4 and charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records. Prosecutors said Cavaco issued himself over $100,000 in additional pay. The parish's former maintenance foreman, Anthony Fusaro, 62, of Hampton Bays, was also arrested and charged with grand larceny. Fusaro is accused of taking $114,000 in extra pay. His case is pending. Cavaco pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of second-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records, prosecutors said. Cavaco also agreed to pay restitution of up to $423,420. His sentencing will be on July 20. As part of his plea agreement, Cavaco is expected to receive a jail term of less than a year. Neither Cavaco nor his attorney could be reached to comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
$500,000 short and it didn't become obvious? This parish needs to adopt an impoverished sister parish.
yep, put the laity in control and all things will improve.
If my parish came up $500,000 short the lights and heat would be turned off and the pastor would be panhandling for dinner.
These folks must be rolling in dough.
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