Priest pleads guilty to grand larceny

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that F. Norman Sullivan, a 74-year-old semi-retired Catholic Priest, today pled guilty to the D felony of grand larceny in the third degree.

This charge arises from Father Sullivan's having stolen $213,732 from Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish in Cheektowaga during the period 2000 until the closing of that Parish in early 2008, while he was assigned to that parish as its pastor.

Before this plea was taken, Father Sullivan today finished making full restitution to the Diocese of Buffalo on this $213,732, and in fact, the payment of this entire $213,732 beforehand was a condition of the plea.

Various methods were used by Father Sullivan to effect these thefts, including both the use of unauthorized checks from a parish account, and the theft of collection cash.

The financial analysis of the documents relating to Father Sullivan's thefts from Most Holy Redeemer Parish was graetly assisted by Forensic Accountant and CPA Timothy McPoland of the accounting firm Freed Maxick who was retained by the Erie County District Attorney's Office through funds made available by the County Executive and Legislature to this office for audits in complex embezzlement situations.

A term of probation or imprisonment for a term of 2-1/3 to seven years can be imposed when Father Sullivan is sentenced.

The District Attorney will answer media inquires at 4:00 p.m. at the office of the Erie County District Attorney.