Arrested Priest Lawrence Kozak Uses Church Fund To Gamble

A Pennsylvania priest, Lawrence Kozak, has been accused of using over $214,000 in church funds to stake a virtual slot game.

The accusations detail a saga of financial impropriety, with Kozak purportedly diverting over $214,000 towards his personal Apple ID expenditures.

A substantial portion of this sum, approximately $44,000, was allegedly charged to a credit card linked to the parish.
The details of Kozak’s alleged expenditures paint a troubling picture.

Candy Crush. Photo Credit: Google Play store

Reportedly, a document spanning from September 2019 to June 2022 identified over 2,000 transactions categorized as “gaming.”

Transactions included virtual slot machine app purchases like Cash Frenzy, Willy Wonka Vegas Casino Slots, and Wizard of Oz Slot Machine Game.

Despite these apps not offering real-world monetary rewards, Kozak purportedly justified his expenditures as mere “powering up” rather than traditional gambling.

Moreover, an examination of Kozak’s Amazon account revealed further misappropriation.

Allegedly, he used the parish’s credit card to purchase gifts for his goddaughter, including an Amazon Fire tablet and a chemistry set.

While Kozak reportedly contributed over $10,000 towards the parish credit card balance from a separate account, the nature and extent of his alleged financial misconduct remain staggering.

The situation adds gravity when considering Kozak’s prior encounters with financial scrutiny.
Allegedly, the parish’s business manager previously cautioned Kozak about the ramifications of his spending habits.

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Despite these warnings, Kozak allegedly persisted in his financial improprieties, ultimately leading to his arrest and subsequent criminal charges.

In a gesture of repentance, Kozak purportedly penned a letter to Father Thomas Kletzel, his successor at St.
Thomas More Parish, accompanied by a check for $8,000.

Expressing remorse for the distress caused, Kozak pledged to rectify the situation, citing ongoing payments towards the parish credit card.