Ex-priest accused of theft sent to county jail

He previously worked at local churches, including St. John the Baptist in McKeesport.

By RENATTA SIGNORINI
TribLive

A former Ukrainian Catholic priest accused in a $740,000 theft is back in Westmoreland County.

Gregory A. Madeya, 69, was extradited from Florida, where he lives, and arraigned on theft, financial exploitation and related charges late Tuesday afternoon. He was denied bond and is lodged at the Westmoreland County Prison.

A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 3.

He was arrested in Florida Aug. 14 after charges were filed in Westmoreland County by the state Attorney General’s Office following a grand jury investigation. Authorities said the theft allegations were part of a pattern of behavior that stretches back to 2018.

Investigators said Madeya fraudulently misappropriated nearly $320,000 from multiple sources — including three Western Pennsylvania churches, parishioners and donors — took more than $230,000 from his mother’s investment accounts and failed to pay more than $248,000 in taxes. Madeya’s actions resulted in the total misappropriation of $740,410, authorities said.

He previously worked at local churches, including St. John the Baptist in McKeesport, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Derry Township and St. Demetrius Church in Jeannette.

Over the course of the investigation, witnesses from the church community relayed instances of missing collections money and fundraising proceeds, as well as missing donations, rent and church-related fees that were never deposited into church accounts, investigators said.

He was suspended from the Ukrainian Catholic Church in February 2024.