Man charged with stealing $250K from 91-year-old priest

Author: Associated Press
Published:
MGN

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) – The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Jacksonville man who is accused of stealing more than $250,000 from a 91-year-old Carmelite Catholic priest.

The priest reported multiple fraudulent transactions on his financial accounts. Detectives found that 56-year-old Chris Crisafulli had obtained limited power of attorney of one of the alleged victim’s accounts and then added himself as a joint account owner on the other.

The priest told detectives he had been a “spiritual mentor” to Crisafulli for years. He reportedly signed documents the younger man gave him, thinking they were for automatic payments for monthly phone service.

The Herald Tribune (http://bit.ly/1G3LKYQ) reports that Crisafulli is charged with one felony count of exploitation of the elderly and has been released on $20,000 bond.

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