PHILADELPHIA – In a stunning revelation from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Monsignor William Dombrow has pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud. The Darby, PA, resident stands accused of siphoning over $535,000 in church funds for his own gain.
The monsignor, who resided at the Villa Saint Joseph Retirement home in Darby, was granted exclusive access to an Archdiocese bank account. It was funded by bequests and life insurance proceeds meant for the Archdiocese. Dombrow admitted that between December 2007 and May 2016, he fraudulently withdrew nearly $535,258.11 from this account.
This money was reportedly spent on gambling sprees in Chester, the Poconos, and Aruba, as well as to fund a lavish lifestyle. The monsignor, now 77 years old, faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines, and five years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for August 15, 2017, before the Honorable Jeffrey Schmehl. Dombrow is also subject to a $400 special assessment and mandatory restitution.
The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and the Darby Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella is handling the prosecution.
William Dombrow’s downfall serves as a stark reminder of the potential for corruption within religious institutions, and the legal system awaits his final reckoning.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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