A former Pennsylvania Catholic priest is facing felony charges after investigators say he stole more than $740,000 from the church community he served and from his own elderly mother. Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, was arrested Aug. 14 in Vero Beach. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office says he misappropriated nearly $320,000 from church-related people and entities, including the Knights of Columbus, and sold a gold chalice belonging to St. John the Baptist church to a jeweler for $19,440.
The allegations involving his mother are just as troubling. Prosecutors say Madeya, while serving as her power of attorney, took more than $230,000 from her investment accounts. She was evicted from multiple nursing homes because payments weren’t made. He is also accused of failing to pay more than $248,000 in taxes. He faces charges including theft, financial exploitation of an older adult, and access device fraud.
For Suncoast residents, this story hits close to home in more ways than one. With so many retirees and snowbirds in our beach communities, elder financial exploitation is a real and growing concern, and it often comes from someone the victim trusts. Whether it’s a family member or an institution, oversight and open conversations about money are the best protection.
What steps does your family take to protect an aging loved one’s finances? Share your experience in the comments.
