Former Priest Investigated in Church Embezzlement

By James Kust
WTMJ
September 5, 2013

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/Former-priest-investigated-in-church-embezzlement-222448741.html

[with video]

Hundreds of dollars towards the Western Racquet Club, over a thousand dollars to a florist, and $57,000 worth of checks written to a Bank of America account. Those are just some of the expenditures Father James Dokos is suspected of spending from a trust fund that was intended to be used for charity.

"Yes those are checks the church council doesn't believe were spent for church purposes," said David Feiss, an attorney with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office, "But we need to investigate that further."

Word that her former pastor of Annunication Greek Orthodox Church is suspected of theft was shocking to Nikoletta Mitchell.

"I was very surprised because he said that someone had donated to him."

Father Dokos was the sole trustee of a fund left by a wealthy donor.

Court documents show Father Dokos was supposed to distribute over a million dollars to a number of charities - and he did that. But, more than $60,000 may have been misused. The District Attorney's office will deteremine if there is a crime. Father Dokos could be charged with felony theft by a trustee.

A spokesperson for the Annunication Greek Orthodox Church tells TODAY'S TMJ4 the parish council is working closely with the District Attorney's office.

Father Dokos now pastors in Glendview, Ilinois. He was transfered to St. Peter and Pauls Greek Othodox church church a year ago, before this investigation started.