A church in New Jersey has accused its bookkeeper of stealing round $1.5 million to fund a private spending spree that included a litany of purchases, together with sports activities tickets and expenses linked to his private Cadillac.
The Church of Saint Leo the Nice of Lincroft filed a criticism towards Joseph A. Manzi final week within the Superior Courtroom of New Jersey for Monmouth County legislation division, in search of damages. The church alleges that its former director of finance, operations, and improvement misappropriated over $1.5 million in working funds over the course of at the very least six years.
In accordance with the criticism, Manzi labored for Saint Leo the Nice from March 2014 till June 2025. His obligations included overseeing the church’s working account.
“As a substitute of managing and overseeing the administration of St. Leo’s monetary dealings, together with the managing of its enterprise working account in accordance along with his fiduciary obligation, Manzi systematically, secretly, and dishonestly utilized parish funds for his personal private profit,” the criticism alleges.
Manzi allegedly used church bank cards to pay for expenses associated to a Cadillac and different autos, tickets to sports activities occasions, building tasks on his private house, cigars, meals, bills tied to his daughter’s marriage ceremony, and present playing cards, amongst different issues.
“Prices on these playing cards had been paid immediately out of St. Leo’s working account. Pursuant to St. Leo’s insurance policies, which Manzi was conscious of, St. Leo’s enterprise bank cards had been for use for enterprise functions solely,” the criticism continued.
“Whereas the investigation into Manzi’s misappropriations is continuous, the whole quantity of St. Leo’s enterprise card abuse uncovered to this point seems to exceed $1,500,000. … Manzi has not reimbursed St. Leo’s for any of those private expenses.”
St. Leo’s mentioned Manzi engaged in “widespread fraud and theft” and “handled the St. Leo’s working account as his private piggy financial institution.”
The Catholic Diocese of Trenton launched a assertion Wednesday stating {that a} “preliminary investigation performed by the parish and officers of the Diocese of Trenton confirmed a foundation for these considerations.”
“These allegations had been reported to each native and state legislation enforcement and civil treatments are being explored in reference to all misappropriated funds,” said the diocese.
“The parish and Diocese are persevering with to analyze this matter and have dedicated full cooperation with legislation enforcement efforts. As it is a topic of a legislation enforcement investigation and civil litigation, we’re not in a position to remark additional at the moment.”
A spokesperson for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Workplace advised The Monmouth Journal that the workplace is conscious of the lawsuit however cannot affirm nor deny an investigation.
