George Papadakos, the former Director of Finance of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, pled guilty today to embezzling more than $60,000 of GOAA funds, according to an official press release of the Office the Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
According to the statement of the Attorney, George Papadakos was surrendered on Wednesday morning and pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. Papadakos’s case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.
United States Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said that “As Director of Finance of the Greek Orthodox Church, George Papadakos was supposed to serve his Church, not himself. As he admitted on Wednesday morning, June 19, he embezzled from the Church for nearly six years. For this sin, he faces the possibility of time in a federal prison.
According to the allegations in the Information to which Papadakos pled guilty, as well as statements made in court during the plea proceeding, Between 2012 and September 2017, Papadakos, the Director of Finance for the Archdiocese of America, repeatedly embezzled from the Archdiocese.
He charged approximately $66,499 to a credit card for personal expenses without the Archdiocese’s authorization. These personal expenses included charges for home improvements, clothing, a gym membership, iTunes, and medical bills.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Papadakos agreed to both forfeiture and restitution of $66,499.
Source: The National Herald
